Ciel
Boy name · #4033 in 2025 · Very rare
In 2025, 27 baby boys were named Ciel, placing it at #4033 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #5507, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 66,667 boys born in 2025 was named Ciel.
The 21-year story
Ciel first appears in the Social Security records in 2004, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 32 boys were named Ciel — good for #3497 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 Ciel per year. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ciel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ciel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ciel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ciel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ciel is most common
State-level data for Ciel is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Ciel
Statistically, parents drawn to Ciel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kaiel, Axiel, Asriel, Cassiel, and Remiel.
KaielAxielAsrielCassielRemielIzekielJaxielJosiel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ciel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | #3949 |
| 2024 | 27 | #3986 |
| 2023 | 31 | #3629 |
| 2022 | 26 | #4089 |
| 2021 | 32 | #3497 |
| 2020 | 21 | #4540 |
| 2019 | 25 | #4114 |
| 2018 | 16 | #5540 |
| 2017 | 19 | #4935 |
| 2016 | 23 | #4327 |
| 2015 | 16 | #5507 |
| 2014 | 20 | #4702 |
| 2013 | 17 | #5171 |
| 2012 | 9 | #8158 |
| 2010 | 5 | #12231 |
| 2004 | 5 | #11356 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ciel a popular boy name?
Ciel ranked #4033 among boys in 2025 with 27 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #5507.
When was the name Ciel most popular?
Ciel peaked in 2021, when 32 American boys received the name (ranked #3497 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ciel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 66,667 newborn American boys was named Ciel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
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.