Ariel
Boy name · #558 in 2025 · Distinctive
Ariel is currently the #558 boy name in the United States — 533 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #601, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,377 boys born in 2025 was named Ariel.
The 112-year story
Ariel first appears in the Social Security records in 1913, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1991, when 666 boys were named Ariel — good for #360 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.
Babies named Ariel per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ariel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ariel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ariel 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 Ariel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ariel is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Ariel is most common in NV (1.1 per 1,000), AZ (0.8 per 1,000), NJ (0.7 per 1,000), NY (0.6 per 1,000), TX (0.5 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ariel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ariel
Statistically, parents drawn to Ariel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Uriel, Abdiel, Ahmad, Nathanael, and Emanuel.
UrielAbdielAhmadNathanaelEmanuelMisaelAlvaroMykel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ariel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 533 | #558 |
| 2024 | 598 | #509 |
| 2023 | 566 | #521 |
| 2022 | 519 | #569 |
| 2021 | 507 | #557 |
| 2020 | 497 | #565 |
| 2019 | 511 | #551 |
| 2018 | 470 | #584 |
| 2017 | 600 | #488 |
| 2016 | 601 | #499 |
| 2015 | 455 | #601 |
| 2014 | 319 | #743 |
| 2013 | 298 | #759 |
| 2012 | 296 | #769 |
| 2011 | 379 | #623 |
| 2010 | 413 | #602 |
| 2009 | 475 | #556 |
| 2008 | 455 | #568 |
| 2007 | 521 | #508 |
| 2006 | 573 | #468 |
| 2005 | 438 | #547 |
| 2004 | 416 | #553 |
| 2003 | 387 | #572 |
| 2002 | 441 | #514 |
| 2001 | 405 | #538 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ariel a popular boy name?
Ariel ranked #558 among boys in 2025 with 533 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #601.
When was the name Ariel most popular?
Ariel peaked in 1991, when 666 American boys received the name (ranked #360 that year). Since 1991 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ariel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,377 newborn American boys was named Ariel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.