Ariel
Girl name · #355 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
Ariel ranks #355 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 851 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #137, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,115 girls born in 2025 was named Ariel.
Babies named Ariel per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 133-year story
Ariel first appears in the Social Security records in 1892, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1991, when 5,411 girls were named Ariel — good for #66 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 Ariel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ariel in class?
Ariel scores 65 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 Ariel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ariel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Ariels were CA (178), TX (122), NY (50), FL (46), NC (37). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Ariel
Statistically, parents drawn to Ariel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Arielle, Angel, Raven, Kayla, and Ana.
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Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ariel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 851 | #355 |
| 2024 | 1,055 | #300 |
| 2023 | 1,096 | #287 |
| 2022 | 1,295 | #236 |
| 2021 | 1,351 | #220 |
| 2020 | 1,472 | #199 |
| 2019 | 1,685 | #172 |
| 2018 | 1,832 | #154 |
| 2017 | 2,076 | #142 |
| 2016 | 2,199 | #140 |
| 2015 | 2,358 | #137 |
| 2014 | 2,445 | #132 |
| 2013 | 2,140 | #145 |
| 2012 | 1,742 | #181 |
| 2011 | 1,438 | #220 |
| 2010 | 1,462 | #213 |
| 2009 | 1,577 | #205 |
| 2008 | 1,553 | #217 |
| 2007 | 1,784 | #188 |
| 2006 | 1,734 | #202 |
| 2005 | 1,568 | #222 |
| 2004 | 1,546 | #219 |
| 2003 | 1,548 | #213 |
| 2002 | 1,548 | #215 |
| 2001 | 1,654 | #197 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ariel a popular girl name?
Ariel ranked #355 among girls in 2025 with 851 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #137.
When was the name Ariel most popular?
Ariel peaked in 1991, when 5,411 American girls received the name (ranked #66 that year). Since 1991 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ariel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,115 newborn American girls was named Ariel. It scores 65/100 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.