Ansel
Boy name · #1138 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Ansel? In official American birth records, Ansel has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
Ansel ranks #1138 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 186 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1174, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 9,677 boys born in 2025 was named Ansel.
The 143-year story
Ansel first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 186 babies and a rank of #1138. 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.
Babies named Ansel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ansel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ansel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ansel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ansel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ansel is most common
State-level data for Ansel 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 Ansel
Statistically, parents drawn to Ansel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Aksel, Adiel, Aviel, Hansel, and Abiel.
AkselAdielAvielHanselAbielGadielAsielAzael
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ansel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 186 | #1138 |
| 2024 | 153 | #1286 |
| 2023 | 166 | #1203 |
| 2022 | 146 | #1300 |
| 2021 | 157 | #1225 |
| 2020 | 163 | #1177 |
| 2019 | 137 | #1327 |
| 2018 | 171 | #1128 |
| 2017 | 148 | #1236 |
| 2016 | 160 | #1183 |
| 2015 | 158 | #1174 |
| 2014 | 109 | #1485 |
| 2013 | 102 | #1546 |
| 2012 | 69 | #2016 |
| 2011 | 75 | #1866 |
| 2010 | 75 | #1898 |
| 2009 | 51 | #2486 |
| 2008 | 63 | #2140 |
| 2007 | 62 | #2164 |
| 2006 | 49 | #2477 |
| 2005 | 70 | #1838 |
| 2004 | 50 | #2283 |
| 2003 | 45 | #2349 |
| 2002 | 38 | #2556 |
| 2001 | 28 | #3143 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ansel?
In official American birth records, the name Ansel first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ansel a popular boy name?
Ansel ranked #1138 among boys in 2025 with 186 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1174.
When was the name Ansel most popular?
Ansel peaked in 2025, when 186 American boys received the name (ranked #1138 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Ansel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 9,677 newborn American boys was named Ansel. 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.