Cael
Boy name · #1950 in 2025 · Uniqueness 54/100
In 2025, 79 baby boys were named Cael, placing it at #1950 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1247, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 22,785 boys born in 2025 was named Cael.
The 36-year story
Cael first appears in the Social Security records in 1989, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2011, when 272 boys were named Cael — good for #805 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 Cael per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Cael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Cael in class?
Cael scores 54 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 Cael is most common
Geography matters for names, and Cael is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Caels were TX (10), MD (6), CA (5), IA (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 Cael
Statistically, parents drawn to Cael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jael, Asael, Kael, Neel, and Yariel.
JaelAsaelKaelNeelYarielYandelJarielPavel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Cael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 79 | #1942 |
| 2024 | 60 | #2345 |
| 2023 | 42 | #2952 |
| 2022 | 38 | #3151 |
| 2021 | 44 | #2819 |
| 2020 | 51 | #2505 |
| 2019 | 57 | #2364 |
| 2018 | 73 | #1994 |
| 2017 | 69 | #2032 |
| 2016 | 92 | #1694 |
| 2015 | 145 | #1247 |
| 2014 | 173 | #1102 |
| 2013 | 182 | #1052 |
| 2012 | 212 | #949 |
| 2011 | 272 | #805 |
| 2010 | 252 | #840 |
| 2009 | 270 | #816 |
| 2008 | 263 | #832 |
| 2007 | 214 | #925 |
| 2006 | 206 | #919 |
| 2005 | 215 | #854 |
| 2004 | 175 | #957 |
| 2003 | 176 | #933 |
| 2002 | 222 | #777 |
| 2001 | 55 | #1960 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cael a popular boy name?
Cael ranked #1950 among boys in 2025 with 79 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1247.
When was the name Cael most popular?
Cael peaked in 2011, when 272 American boys received the name (ranked #805 that year). Since 2011 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Cael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 22,785 newborn American boys was named Cael. It scores 54/100 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.