Carmilla

“a variant of Carmen, meaning 'song' or 'poem'.”

English origin · Girl name

♂ 3% boys♀ 97% girls

#9743US 2023

10Births / yr

↑Rising

416All-time births

📅 Since 191500

How to pronounce Carmilla

KAH·RMILL·AH

/ˈkɑ.ˈrmɪll.ˈɑ/ · stress on KAH · 3 syllables

“a variant of Carmen, meaning 'song' or 'poem'.”

English origin · Girl name

What does Carmilla mean and where does it come from?

Carmilla is a name that gained popularity through literary works, particularly from Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's famous Gothic novella 'Carmilla.' The name reflects themes of mystery and allure. Its connection to gothic horror gave the name a certain uniqueness and it has seen revivals in modern litera

Cultural significance

Carmilla has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in English-speaking communities, where it reflects values of a variant of carmen, meaning 'song' or 'poem'..

Peak popularity

Reached #2504 in 1921 — currently #9743 in the US.

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What middle names flow best with Carmilla?

Carmilla works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful

Carmilla Grace

How popular is Carmilla right now?

Rising fast — up 1660 spots — currently #9743 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names

US Trend 1915–2023#9743 · Top 7.2%

1915

1955

1960

1965

1970

1975

1980

1985

1990

2015

2022

2023

Year	US Rank	Births	vs Prior Year
2023	#9743	10	▲ up 1660 · +25% births
2022	#11403	8	▲ up 3191 · +33% births
2015	#14594	6	▼ down 1430 · +20% births
1990	#13164	5	▼ down 7422 · -58% births
1985	#5742	12	▲ up 4875 · +140% births
1980	#10617	5	▼ down 5000 · -50% births
1975	#5617	10	▼ down 484
1970	#5133	10	▲ up 1624 · +100% births
1965	#6757	5	▼ down 2185 · -44% births
1960	#4572	9	▼ down 44 · +13% births
1955	#4528	8	▼ down 384 · +33% births
1915	#4144	6	—

Name Popularity Timeline

Popularity Statistics for Carmilla

Best Year1915Rank #4144

Peak Count12

Average Rank#8001

Current Trend↘Falling

Data Range1915 - 202312 years

The story of Carmilla

Carmilla entered American naming records in 1915 and has been in use for over 109 years. With 416 total births recorded, Carmilla remains relatively uncommon. Once ranked #4144 in 1915, the name has become less common in recent years, sitting at #9743 in 2023.

Names that peaked alongside Carmilla in 1921:

Mary Dorothy Helen Margaret Ruth

Carmilla by decade

Carmilla peaked in the 1920s. See all 1920s names →

Decade	Births
1910s	28
1920s	58
1930s	11
1940s	22
1950s	42
1960s	71
1970s ★	85
1980s	59
1990s	18
2010s	22

💎Carmilla has only 416 total recorded births since 1915 — rarer than 99% of names in our database.

What are good nicknames for Carmilla?

Common

CarCaIlla

What names sound and feel like Carmilla?

Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love Carmilla also consider these

Carilla

American · Little one or

Carmella

Italian · garden, orchard

Camilla

Latin · Young ceremonial attendant

Spain · young ceremonial attendant

Casilla

Latin · A Latin name

Common questions about the name Carmilla

What does the name Carmilla mean?

Carmilla means "a variant of Carmen, meaning 'song' or 'poem'." — a name rooted in English tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.

How popular is the name Carmilla?

Carmilla is currently a distinctive and less common name as a girl name in the US and is rapidly gaining popularity — searches for Carmilla have increased significantly in recent years.

What is the cultural origin of Carmilla?

Carmilla originates from English tradition. English names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.

How do you pronounce the name Carmilla?

Carmilla is a three-syllable name pronounced K AA1 R M IH1 L L AA1. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.

What sibling names go well with Carmilla?

Carmilla pairs beautifully with sibling names that share a similar English heritage or complement its melodic and flowing sound. Names with a similar vibe create a cohesive sibling set without matching too closely.