Royal
Boy name · #476 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Royal? In official American birth records, Royal has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Royal is currently the #476 boy name in the United States — 640 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #465, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,813 boys born in 2025 was named Royal.
The 145-year story
Royal first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 26 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 888 boys were named Royal — good for #369 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 Royal per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Royal against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Royal in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Royal is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Royal is most common
Geography matters for names, and Royal is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Royal is most common in GA (1 per 1,000), NV (0.9 per 1,000), OK (0.8 per 1,000), LA (0.8 per 1,000), MD (0.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Royal is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Royal
Statistically, parents drawn to Royal tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Loyal, Ronin, Rowen, Royce, and Remy.
LoyalRoninRowenRoyceRemyRidgeRaidenRayan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Royal | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 640 | #476 |
| 2024 | 745 | #424 |
| 2023 | 795 | #401 |
| 2022 | 880 | #369 |
| 2021 | 888 | #369 |
| 2020 | 740 | #405 |
| 2019 | 653 | #458 |
| 2018 | 610 | #479 |
| 2017 | 577 | #502 |
| 2016 | 662 | #461 |
| 2015 | 648 | #465 |
| 2014 | 489 | #570 |
| 2013 | 235 | #886 |
| 2012 | 194 | #1015 |
| 2011 | 148 | #1193 |
| 2010 | 145 | #1219 |
| 2009 | 122 | #1390 |
| 2008 | 110 | #1482 |
| 2007 | 115 | #1412 |
| 2006 | 75 | #1823 |
| 2005 | 68 | #1869 |
| 2004 | 61 | #1974 |
| 2003 | 53 | #2102 |
| 2002 | 53 | #2046 |
| 2001 | 57 | #1912 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Royal?
In official American birth records, the name Royal first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 26 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Royal a popular boy name?
Royal ranked #476 among boys in 2025 with 640 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #465.
When was the name Royal most popular?
Royal peaked in 2021, when 888 American boys received the name (ranked #369 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Royal?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,813 newborn American boys was named Royal. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.