Fidel
Boy name · #1868 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Fidel? In official American birth records, Fidel has been tracked continuously since 1892, giving it 133 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 84 baby boys were named Fidel, placing it at #1868 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1646, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 21,429 boys born in 2025 was named Fidel.
Babies named Fidel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 133-year story
Fidel first appears in the Social Security records in 1892, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2001, when 195 boys were named Fidel — good for #833 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 Fidel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Fidel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Fidel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Fidel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Fidel is most common
State-level data for Fidel 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 Fidel
Statistically, parents drawn to Fidel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mikel, Nigel, Roel, Romel, and Jamel.
MikelNigelRoelRomelJamelMykelFredyIsidro
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Fidel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 84 | #1867 |
| 2024 | 82 | #1921 |
| 2023 | 92 | #1765 |
| 2022 | 84 | #1875 |
| 2021 | 64 | #2193 |
| 2020 | 81 | #1833 |
| 2019 | 104 | #1592 |
| 2018 | 69 | #2065 |
| 2017 | 87 | #1768 |
| 2016 | 92 | #1694 |
| 2015 | 96 | #1646 |
| 2014 | 90 | #1691 |
| 2013 | 97 | #1588 |
| 2012 | 100 | #1575 |
| 2011 | 122 | #1371 |
| 2010 | 110 | #1481 |
| 2009 | 137 | #1278 |
| 2008 | 141 | #1233 |
| 2007 | 176 | #1060 |
| 2006 | 155 | #1121 |
| 2005 | 179 | #972 |
| 2004 | 165 | #1000 |
| 2003 | 168 | #967 |
| 2002 | 179 | #901 |
| 2001 | 195 | #833 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Fidel?
In official American birth records, the name Fidel first appeared in 1892 (over 133 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Fidel a popular boy name?
Fidel ranked #1868 among boys in 2025 with 84 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1646.
When was the name Fidel most popular?
Fidel peaked in 2001, when 195 American boys received the name (ranked #833 that year). Since 2001 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Fidel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 21,429 newborn American boys was named Fidel. 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.