Abel
Boy name · #231 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Abel? In official American birth records, Abel has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 1,525 baby boys were named Abel, placing it at #231 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #124, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,180 boys born in 2025 was named Abel.
Babies named Abel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Abel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2015, when 3,245 boys were named Abel — good for #124 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Abel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Abel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Abel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Abel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Abel is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Abel is most common in NM (2 per 1,000), NV (1.9 per 1,000), NE (1.8 per 1,000), OR (1.7 per 1,000), AZ (1.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Abel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Abel
Statistically, parents drawn to Abel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Axel, Avery, Abdiel, Noel, and Leonel.
AxelAveryAbdielNoelLeonelReidIsmaelAli
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Abel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,525 | #231 |
| 2024 | 1,635 | #220 |
| 2023 | 1,658 | #220 |
| 2022 | 1,769 | #215 |
| 2021 | 1,956 | #195 |
| 2020 | 2,131 | #181 |
| 2019 | 2,469 | #158 |
| 2018 | 2,682 | #146 |
| 2017 | 2,714 | #145 |
| 2016 | 3,045 | #137 |
| 2015 | 3,245 | #124 |
| 2014 | 2,573 | #164 |
| 2013 | 2,238 | #180 |
| 2012 | 1,952 | #192 |
| 2011 | 1,508 | #238 |
| 2010 | 1,128 | #293 |
| 2009 | 964 | #330 |
| 2008 | 864 | #361 |
| 2007 | 940 | #343 |
| 2006 | 924 | #338 |
| 2005 | 855 | #347 |
| 2004 | 791 | #356 |
| 2003 | 755 | #360 |
| 2002 | 775 | #353 |
| 2001 | 733 | #362 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Abel?
In official American birth records, the name Abel first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 9 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Abel a popular boy name?
Abel ranked #231 among boys in 2025 with 1,525 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #124.
When was the name Abel most popular?
Abel peaked in 2015, when 3,245 American boys received the name (ranked #124 that year). Since 2015 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Abel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,180 newborn American boys was named Abel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.