UK girl's name
Carmella
A feminine name of Italian origin meaning "garden".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Carmella is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Carmella popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4056, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 19 births.
This profile covers 130 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1997 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 26% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 129 living people in the UK are called Carmella. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Carmella ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 19 girls were registered as Carmella.
- • About 129 living people in the UK are estimated to have Carmella as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4056
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2008
19 births
Estimated living
129
2026
Meaning
What does Carmella mean?
The name Carmella has its origins in the Italian language. It is a feminine form derived from the Late Latin name Carmellus, which itself comes from the Hebrew word "kerem-el" meaning "vineyard of God." The name is associated with Mount Carmel in northern Israel, where the Carmelite religious order was founded.
The earliest recorded use of the name Carmella dates back to the 12th century in Italy. During this time, it was popular among devout Catholic families who wished to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The name gained widespread popularity in Italy and other parts of Europe during the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods.
In ancient texts, references to Mount Carmel can be found in the biblical books of 1 Kings, 2 Kings, and Amos. However, the name Carmella itself does not appear in religious scriptures or early historical records. Its usage likely emerged as a diminutive or pet form of the name Carmela, which was more commonly used in Italy during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Carmella was Carmella Battaglia (c. 1370-1420), an Italian nun and mystic from Sicily. Another notable figure was Carmella Guidi (1548-1634), an Italian philosopher and writer who published works on theology and moral philosophy.
In the 17th century, Carmella Acton (1630-1706) was a wealthy English heiress and philanthropist who established several charitable foundations. During the 18th century, Carmella Cafarelli (1715-1795) was an Italian operatic soprano who performed in numerous operas across Europe.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Carmella was Carmella Pávon (1826-1889), a Mexican poet and writer who was a prominent figure in the Mexican Romantic literary movement. She published several collections of poetry and was known for her lyrical style and vivid descriptions of nature.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Carmella. While not an exhaustive list, it showcases the long-standing use of this name across various cultures and time periods, with its roots firmly planted in Italian and religious traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Carmella over time
The chart below shows babies named Carmella registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Carmella, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Carmella by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Carmella was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4171 | 20 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3748 | 54 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3069 | 52 | 7 |
| 1990s | #3174 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Carmella
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Carmella: questions and answers
How popular is the name Carmella in the UK right now?
In 2023, Carmella was ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Carmella most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 19 babies registered as Carmella in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Carmella?
A feminine name of Italian origin meaning "garden".
How many people are called Carmella in the UK?
A total of 130 babies have been registered as Carmella across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.