Karmelo
A masculine name derived from the Hebrew name Carmel meaning "orchard, fruitful".
Name Census estimates that about 1,267 living Americans carry the first name Karmelo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Karmelo today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Karmelo births was 2021 (121 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Karmelo. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Karmelo is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 10 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.3K
~ 1 in 270,524 Americans
Peak year
2021
121 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,737
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Karmelo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Karmelo from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 655 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Karmelo remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Karmelo by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Karmelo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Karmelos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. Texas, Florida, Georgia recorded the most babies named Karmelo, while Maryland, Mississippi, Pennsylvania recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 37 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Karmelo
The name Karmelo has its origins in the Basque language, spoken primarily in the Basque Country, a region spanning parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, derived from the Basque word "karmel," which means "garden" or "orchard."
In Basque culture, names often reflected elements of nature or occupations, and Karmelo may have been initially bestowed upon individuals associated with gardening or horticulture. Alternatively, it could have been inspired by the biblical Mount Carmel, a significant location in the Old Testament, particularly for the Carmelite religious order.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Karmelo can be found in the 13th century, when a nobleman named Karmelo Lope de Haro was mentioned in historical documents from the Kingdom of Navarre. In the 15th century, a Basque friar named Karmelo Bertranitz gained recognition for his religious writings and sermons.
Karmelo Etxegarai (1825-1899) was a notable Basque poet and playwright who contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of the Basque language and culture during the 19th century. His works often explored themes of Basque identity and rural life.
In the realm of sports, Karmelo Anasagasti (1914-1990) was a renowned Spanish footballer who played as a striker for Athletic Bilbao and the Spanish national team during the 1930s and 1940s. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of Athletic Bilbao.
Another notable figure was Karmelo Biondini (1920-1999), an Italian painter and sculptor who became known for his abstract expressionist works. His artistic career spanned several decades, and his pieces are featured in various galleries and museums throughout Europe.
Karmelo Esnal (1940-2010) was a Basque politician and activist who played a significant role in the struggle for Basque autonomy and independence. He served as a member of the Basque Parliament and was instrumental in promoting Basque language and cultural rights.
While the name Karmelo has its roots in the Basque region, it has gained recognition and popularity in other parts of the world, particularly in Spanish-speaking countries and among certain Christian communities, likely influenced by its biblical connections.
People
Karmelo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Karmelo as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Karmelo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Karmelo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,267 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Karmelo going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 270,524 US residents.
Is Karmelo a common name?
We classify Karmelo as "Rare". It ranks above 91.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,277 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Karmelo most popular?
The single biggest year for Karmelo was 2021, when 121 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Karmelo is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Karmelo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Karmelo in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.