Nigel
Boy name · #2083 in 2025 · Uniqueness 75/100
Nigel is currently the #2083 boy name in the United States — 71 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1111, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 25,352 boys born in 2025 was named Nigel.
The 96-year story
Nigel first appears in the Social Security records in 1929, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1994, when 448 boys were named Nigel — good for #477 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 Nigel per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nigel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nigel in class?
Nigel scores 75 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Nigel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nigel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nigel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nigels were CA (7), FL (7), SC (5), TX (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nigel
Statistically, parents drawn to Nigel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Fidel, Jaleel, Mykel, Romel, and Mikel.
FidelJaleelMykelRomelMikelNabeelJamelTyrell
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nigel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71 | #2077 |
| 2024 | 66 | #2190 |
| 2023 | 73 | #2047 |
| 2022 | 71 | #2094 |
| 2021 | 94 | #1721 |
| 2020 | 80 | #1849 |
| 2019 | 108 | #1548 |
| 2018 | 125 | #1401 |
| 2017 | 150 | #1219 |
| 2016 | 146 | #1254 |
| 2015 | 173 | #1111 |
| 2014 | 155 | #1188 |
| 2013 | 170 | #1090 |
| 2012 | 178 | #1065 |
| 2011 | 194 | #998 |
| 2010 | 216 | #933 |
| 2009 | 249 | #856 |
| 2008 | 271 | #809 |
| 2007 | 303 | #742 |
| 2006 | 309 | #707 |
| 2005 | 276 | #733 |
| 2004 | 237 | #766 |
| 2003 | 266 | #706 |
| 2002 | 280 | #667 |
| 2001 | 305 | #622 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nigel a popular boy name?
Nigel ranked #2083 among boys in 2025 with 71 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1111.
When was the name Nigel most popular?
Nigel peaked in 1994, when 448 American boys received the name (ranked #477 that year). Since 1994 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nigel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 25,352 newborn American boys was named Nigel. It scores 75/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "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.