Raul
Boy name · #634 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Raul? In official American birth records, Raul has been tracked continuously since 1904, giving it 121 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 440 baby boys were named Raul, placing it at #634 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #443, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,091 boys born in 2025 was named Raul.
Babies named Raul per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 121-year story
Raul first appears in the Social Security records in 1904, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2000, when 1,519 boys were named Raul — good for #223 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Raul against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Raul in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Raul is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Raul will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Raul is most common
Geography matters for names, and Raul is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Raul is most common in TX (0.8 per 1,000), AZ (0.7 per 1,000), CA (0.6 per 1,000), IL (0.2 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.3 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Raul is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Raul
Statistically, parents drawn to Raul tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Saul, Ruben, Seth, Roel, and Ramiro.
SaulRubenSethRoelRamiroRamonJohnpaulPedro
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Raul | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 440 | #634 |
| 2024 | 466 | #611 |
| 2023 | 477 | #594 |
| 2022 | 539 | #554 |
| 2021 | 455 | #610 |
| 2020 | 505 | #557 |
| 2019 | 552 | #517 |
| 2018 | 551 | #513 |
| 2017 | 556 | #519 |
| 2016 | 652 | #468 |
| 2015 | 693 | #443 |
| 2014 | 727 | #422 |
| 2013 | 722 | #409 |
| 2012 | 722 | #403 |
| 2011 | 835 | #360 |
| 2010 | 926 | #340 |
| 2009 | 1,015 | #315 |
| 2008 | 1,180 | #288 |
| 2007 | 1,387 | #255 |
| 2006 | 1,355 | #255 |
| 2005 | 1,332 | #248 |
| 2004 | 1,381 | #242 |
| 2003 | 1,401 | #238 |
| 2002 | 1,407 | #240 |
| 2001 | 1,439 | #235 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Raul?
In official American birth records, the name Raul first appeared in 1904 (over 121 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 121 years.
Is Raul a popular boy name?
Raul ranked #634 among boys in 2025 with 440 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #443.
When was the name Raul most popular?
Raul peaked in 2000, when 1,519 American boys received the name (ranked #223 that year). Since 2000 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Raul?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,091 newborn American boys was named Raul. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.