StorkWorldstorkworld com

Carmen vs Catalina

Which is more popular?
Catalina is more popular than Carmen today: about 2,456 US babies were given the name Catalina in 2025, compared with 798 named Carmen.
CarmenCatalina
Meaning garden / Mount Carmel uncertain; linked to 'pure'
Origin spanish spanish
Gender Girl Girl
Pronunciation KAR-men kah-tah-LEE-nah
Syllables 2 4
First appeared18811893
Peak year1960 (2,440)2025 (2,456)
In 20257982,456
TrendDecliningNear its peak
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Carmen Catalina
1900192019401960198020002020

Source: US Social Security Administration.

Births by decade

DecadeCarmenCatalina
2020s 4,381 11,909
2010s 8,556 9,369
2000s 12,217 3,742
1990s 11,158 2,236
1980s 12,624 1,304
1970s 17,873 1,001
1960s 22,888 678
1950s 18,953 538
1940s 10,692 422
1930s 8,569 616
1920s 9,180 817
1910s 4,104 278
1900s 1,040 73
1890s 419 26
1880s 141 0

What does Carmen mean?

A Marian devotional name from the title 'María del Carmen', Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Carmel comes from the Hebrew karmel 'garden, orchard, vineyard'. By coincidence the identical Latin word carmen means 'song, poem', which has reinforced the name's appeal.

What does Catalina mean?

The Spanish form of Katherine, from the Greek Aikaterine, whose original meaning is unknown. Early Christians associated it with the Greek katharos 'pure', which reshaped the spelling (with -th-), but that 'pure' sense is a later folk association rather than the true root.

Frequently asked questions

Is Carmen or Catalina more popular?

Catalina is more popular than Carmen today: about 2,456 US babies were given the name Catalina in 2025, compared with 798 named Carmen.

What is the difference between Carmen and Catalina?

Carmen means garden / Mount Carmel (spanish origin), while Catalina means uncertain; linked to 'pure' (spanish origin).

Which name is older, Carmen or Catalina?

In US records, Carmen first appears in 1881 and Catalina in 1893, so Carmen has the longer recorded history.