Carmichael is a unisex given name of Scottish origin, derived from the surname Carmichael, which is believed to have been an occupational name for a miller, derived from Middle Scots 'carme', meaning 'mill' and 'mickle', meaning 'great'. The name Carmichael was popularized in the United States during the 20th century, appearing most frequently as a female given name but also used occasionally for males.
The name Carmichael saw a notable peak in popularity from the late 80s to the mid-90s, with over 7 births per year consistently between 1988 and 1991, reaching an all-time high of 11 births in 1991. However, it has since declined significantly, with fewer than 6 births recorded annually from 2002 onwards, except for a brief spike to 9 births in both 2008 and 2016. The most recent data shows a stable but low number of births, with around 5-7 Carmichael's born each year between 2017 and 2023. Overall, the total number of births recorded for this name over the given period is 240.