Rael
Boy name · #2530 in 2025 · Uniqueness 44/100
In 2025, 53 baby boys were named Rael, placing it at #2530 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #9568, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 33,962 boys born in 2025 was named Rael.
Babies named Rael per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 46-year story
Rael first appears in the Social Security records in 1979, when 8 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 61 babies and a rank of #2313. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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 Rael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rael in class?
Rael scores 44 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Rael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Rael is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Raels were FL (8), TX (8), NY (7), CA (6), MA (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 Rael
Statistically, parents drawn to Rael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Sael, Dael, Zael, Adael, and Ezrael.
SaelDaelZaelAdaelEzraelEzaelLaelMael
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 53 | #2516 |
| 2024 | 61 | #2313 |
| 2023 | 26 | #4112 |
| 2022 | 46 | #2793 |
| 2021 | 26 | #4011 |
| 2020 | 18 | #5041 |
| 2019 | 19 | #4951 |
| 2018 | 22 | #4476 |
| 2017 | 21 | #4594 |
| 2016 | 6 | #10744 |
| 2015 | 7 | #9568 |
| 2014 | 8 | #8781 |
| 2013 | 10 | #7537 |
| 2012 | 6 | #10770 |
| 2011 | 8 | #8767 |
| 2010 | 7 | #9693 |
| 2009 | 9 | #8310 |
| 2008 | 8 | #9019 |
| 2007 | 6 | #10921 |
| 2006 | 13 | #6094 |
| 2005 | 7 | #9115 |
| 2004 | 7 | #8927 |
| 2003 | 10 | #6715 |
| 2001 | 5 | #10556 |
| 2000 | 5 | #10349 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Rael a popular boy name?
Rael ranked #2530 among boys in 2025 with 53 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #9568.
When was the name Rael most popular?
Rael peaked in 2024, when 61 American boys received the name (ranked #2313 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Rael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 33,962 newborn American boys was named Rael. It scores 44/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify 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.