Carmel is a unisex given name of Hebrew origin, meaning "garden" or "orchard." It is derived from the word "kerem," which also signifies "vineyard" or "winepress." Carmel is most notably associated with Mount Carmel in Israel, where the biblical prophet Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. In Christian tradition, it is also connected to the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and their scapular devotion. As a given name, Carmel has been used interchangeably for both males and females, though its usage has predominantly leaned towards females in recent times. It gained popularity as a female name in the early 20th century but has since declined in usage. Some notable individuals bearing this name include Carmel Brynolfsson, an Icelandic chess player, and Carmel Bird, an Australian author known for her novels and short stories.
It appears that the name Carmel experienced a peak in popularity during the early to mid-20th century, with over 49 births recorded in 1918 and consistently high numbers throughout the 1920s and 1930s. However, since the late 1950s, there has been a significant decline in its usage, with fewer than 10 births per year on average from the 1960s onwards. The most recent data shows that Carmel is still being used today, but at a much lower frequency compared to previous decades. In total, the name Carmel has been given to 1376 newborns over the years for which records are available.