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Carmen vs Lucía

Which is more popular?
Lucía is more popular than Carmen today: about 3,012 US babies were given the name Lucía in 2025, compared with 798 named Carmen.
CarmenLucía
Meaning garden / Mount Carmel light
Origin spanish spanish
Gender Girl Girl
Pronunciation KAR-men loo-SEE-ah
Syllables 2 3
First appeared18811880
Peak year1960 (2,440)2025 (3,012)
In 20257983,012
TrendDecliningNear its peak
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Carmen Lucía
18801900192019401960198020002020

Source: US Social Security Administration.

Births by decade

DecadeCarmenLucía
2020s 4,381 14,117
2010s 8,556 14,704
2000s 12,217 8,097
1990s 11,158 3,968
1980s 12,624 3,341
1970s 17,873 2,476
1960s 22,888 2,547
1950s 18,953 2,501
1940s 10,692 1,870
1930s 8,569 1,643
1920s 9,180 1,760
1910s 4,104 1,260
1900s 1,040 464
1890s 419 347
1880s 141 240

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 Lucía mean?

The Spanish form of Lucia, feminine of the Roman name Lucius, from the Latin lux (genitive lucis) 'light'. Borne by Saint Lucy, martyr and patron of the blind, traditionally associated with light and sight.

Frequently asked questions

Is Carmen or Lucía more popular?

Lucía is more popular than Carmen today: about 3,012 US babies were given the name Lucía in 2025, compared with 798 named Carmen.

What is the difference between Carmen and Lucía?

Carmen means garden / Mount Carmel (spanish origin), while Lucía means light (spanish origin).

Which name is older, Carmen or Lucía?

In US records, Carmen first appears in 1881 and Lucía in 1880, so Lucía has the longer recorded history.