View Message

I love Carmen, it's one of the names that is always on my top girls' lists that I could really see myself using in real life. There is something so dramatic and vibrant and fiery about it, but it's also very versatile and practical sensible-namey in that there's nothing silly or whimsical about it. It's not juvenile or frilly or girly or hippyish, there's no inherent embarrassing association (Carmen Miranda, Carmen Electra, maybe cars, I don't know... I live in the UK and I think at least the first two aren't big cultural references any more and there's so many more Carmens anyway... maybe the opera is more of a thing than them). I could picture a daughter of mine called Carmen. Can't say that for many names.

---

Anyway, I think it's beautiful and captivating and I sort of wouldn't be mad if I was called Carmen.

---

I like:

---

Carmen Violetta
Carmen Augusta
Carmen Viveca
Carmen Isidora / Carmen Isadora
Carmen Iolanthe
Carmen Odette

It's one of my favorite names. I like how it reminds me of Carmenta, Kari, Carmelo/Carmelita and karma all at once. It's a little boring but in a nice way.

---

I've known a couple Carmens. One was a childhood friend of my older sister, who was born in the late 1980s. She was tall, mellow, quiet, and athletic with long blonde corkscrew hair; she had a fraternal twin named Monica, and her mom was an art teacher. The other is short, cheerful, chatty, and brunette; she's in her mid 60s and works as an interpreter.

---

These were my favorite of the combos:
Carmen Juliet
Carmen Eloise
Carmen Cecilia / Cecile
Carmen Louisa
Carmen Vashti
Carmen Sylvia
Carmen Lilac
Carmen Eulalia
Carmen Isidora

---

I'd go with Carmen Cleotilde over Clotilde.

This message was edited 11/3/2023, 12:46 PM

I think it’s very pretty, though it wouldn’t be my first choice. From your combination list, Carmen Louisa and Carmen Daisy stick out as charming, beautiful names!

I have a cousin of some sort (my mom's cousin, is that a second cousin? I never know) named Carmen. I always felt it didn't suit her, because Carmen has such dark, temptress energy to it, and cousin Carmen is not saucy at all. She's one of those slightly alarming born-again trad-wife types whose eyes are a bit too bright and teeth are a bit too big, you know? Anyway.

---

I think compact names like Carmen are going to come back into style.

---

Carmen Iolanthe has a beautiful cadence to it. Carmen Felicity is shiny, love that one! I'm also crushing on Opal a lot today so Carmen Opal is speaking to me, although it feels slightly phrase-y somehow.

I've always liked it; it's very glamorous and worldly but it's very familiar and recognizable. Trouble is, for kids who grew up watching "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego" that's the first association. Same as people who grew up watching Carmen Miranda are going to think of fruit-salad hats.
Middle name should be simple and plain; there's a risk of a combo ending up feeling like Carmen Electra or like some new sports car like a Karman Ghia.

I like it, I think it's cool. Sounds like boldness, confidence, someone who knows what they want, but highly sensitive. One of my mom's friends is a transgender man named Carmen, and I think it suits him perfectly.

I know a Carmen's brother-in-law, but that's the closest I've ever got. Her husband is an art dealer. It's all right, but not exciting, though it should be. The opera is wonderful!

It's ok. I like these mn Juliet, Eloise,Xanthe, Lucy, Odette, Felicity, Felicia