Cael
Boy name · #1950 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Cael? In official American birth records, Cael has been tracked continuously since 1989, giving it 36 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Cael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Cael in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Cael is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Cael will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Cael is most common
State-level data for Cael 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 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
How old is the name Cael?
In official American birth records, the name Cael first appeared in 1989 (over 36 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 36 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.