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I prefer Carmel to Carmen. Carmen makes me think of a huge opera singer. It just seems so....really Spanish, I guess? So much so, that when I knew a little girl named Carmen 18-20 years ago, a little girl with no Spanish ancestry, the name so surprised me. Carmen also makes me think of men who drive cars or are obsessed with cars....carmen. I just really don't care for it. Carmel, while not a favorite, is much better IMO.

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I don't pronounce the word "caramel" like Carmel, and have never heard anyone do so, so that's not an issue for me. I know only from reading that some Americans do. But since I've never personally known an American who does, it's not an issue. "Caramel" and Carmel are very different to me.