Nigel
Boy name · #2083 in 2025 · Very rare
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. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nigel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nigel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nigel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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
State-level data for Nigel 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 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. 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.