Earl
Boy name · #2230 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Earl? In official American birth records, Earl has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Earl ranks #2230 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 63 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1353, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 28,571 boys born in 2025 was named Earl.
Babies named Earl per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Earl first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 335 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 6,754 boys were named Earl — good for #31 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Earl against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Earl in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Earl is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Earl will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Earl is most common
State-level data for Earl 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 Earl
Statistically, parents drawn to Earl tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Cecil, Fred, Virgil, Floyd, and Herman.
CecilFredVirgilFloydHermanEdmondEltonRussel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Earl | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 63 | #2230 |
| 2024 | 68 | #2156 |
| 2023 | 63 | #2244 |
| 2022 | 78 | #1965 |
| 2021 | 99 | #1667 |
| 2020 | 68 | #2069 |
| 2019 | 97 | #1658 |
| 2018 | 98 | #1648 |
| 2017 | 114 | #1478 |
| 2016 | 110 | #1522 |
| 2015 | 129 | #1353 |
| 2014 | 105 | #1526 |
| 2013 | 98 | #1578 |
| 2012 | 123 | #1367 |
| 2011 | 115 | #1429 |
| 2010 | 115 | #1438 |
| 2009 | 140 | #1257 |
| 2008 | 170 | #1090 |
| 2007 | 170 | #1080 |
| 2006 | 188 | #985 |
| 2005 | 183 | #953 |
| 2004 | 178 | #945 |
| 2003 | 199 | #867 |
| 2002 | 202 | #826 |
| 2001 | 231 | #749 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Earl?
In official American birth records, the name Earl first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 335 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Earl a popular boy name?
Earl ranked #2230 among boys in 2025 with 63 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1353.
When was the name Earl most popular?
Earl peaked in 1921, when 6,754 American boys received the name (ranked #31 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Earl?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 28,571 newborn American boys was named Earl. 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.