Denali
Boy name · #3628 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Denali? In official American birth records, Denali has been tracked continuously since 1994, giving it 31 years of documented American history.
Denali ranks #3628 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 31 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #3684, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 58,065 boys born in 2025 was named Denali.
The 31-year story
Denali first appears in the Social Security records in 1994, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 42 babies and a rank of #2952. 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 Denali per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Denali against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Denali in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Denali is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Denali will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Denali is most common
State-level data for Denali 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 Denali
Statistically, parents drawn to Denali tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Naftali, Dacari, Dekari, Yishai, and Davari.
NaftaliDacariDekariYishaiDavariMahariDawoodJavari
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Denali | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 31 | #3583 |
| 2024 | 24 | #4321 |
| 2023 | 42 | #2952 |
| 2022 | 41 | #3003 |
| 2021 | 40 | #3021 |
| 2020 | 15 | #5699 |
| 2019 | 28 | #3794 |
| 2018 | 19 | #4918 |
| 2017 | 21 | #4594 |
| 2016 | 25 | #4098 |
| 2015 | 29 | #3684 |
| 2014 | 20 | #4702 |
| 2013 | 11 | #7026 |
| 2012 | 22 | #4390 |
| 2011 | 13 | #6256 |
| 2010 | 20 | #4678 |
| 2009 | 15 | #5800 |
| 2008 | 22 | #4395 |
| 2007 | 26 | #3893 |
| 2006 | 31 | #3384 |
| 2005 | 41 | #2653 |
| 2004 | 31 | #3158 |
| 2003 | 33 | #2922 |
| 2002 | 29 | #3095 |
| 2001 | 17 | #4476 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Denali?
In official American birth records, the name Denali first appeared in 1994 (over 31 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 31 years.
Is Denali a popular boy name?
Denali ranked #3628 among boys in 2025 with 31 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3684.
When was the name Denali most popular?
Denali peaked in 2023, when 42 American boys received the name (ranked #2952 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Denali?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 58,065 newborn American boys was named Denali. 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.