Gabriel
Boy name · #37 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Gabriel? In official American birth records, Gabriel has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 6,569 baby boys were named Gabriel, placing it at #37 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #22, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 274 boys born in 2025 was named Gabriel.
Babies named Gabriel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Gabriel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 15 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 13,041 boys were named Gabriel — good for #24 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 Gabriel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gabriel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gabriel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Gabriel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Gabriel is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Gabriel is most common in HI (9.6 per 1,000), AK (8.8 per 1,000), DC (8.7 per 1,000), DE (8.1 per 1,000), NM (7.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 4.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Gabriel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Nicknames & related forms of Gabriel
Gabriel carries a whole family of nicknames and spellings — names that will feel like the same name in a classroom.
GabrielGabe
Names like Gabriel
Statistically, parents drawn to Gabriel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Angel, Nathaniel, Samuel, Jackson, and Isaac.
AngelNathanielSamuelJacksonIsaacEzekielIsaiahLogan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gabriel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6,569 | #37 |
| 2024 | 6,410 | #43 |
| 2023 | 6,786 | #38 |
| 2022 | 7,257 | #36 |
| 2021 | 7,302 | #38 |
| 2020 | 7,172 | #38 |
| 2019 | 7,768 | #37 |
| 2018 | 8,439 | #35 |
| 2017 | 9,178 | #31 |
| 2016 | 10,279 | #25 |
| 2015 | 10,913 | #22 |
| 2014 | 10,961 | #24 |
| 2013 | 11,245 | #24 |
| 2012 | 11,580 | #24 |
| 2011 | 12,367 | #24 |
| 2010 | 12,891 | #21 |
| 2009 | 12,834 | #22 |
| 2008 | 13,041 | #24 |
| 2007 | 12,911 | #28 |
| 2006 | 12,543 | #28 |
| 2005 | 12,759 | #28 |
| 2004 | 11,563 | #32 |
| 2003 | 12,522 | #29 |
| 2002 | 12,059 | #32 |
| 2001 | 10,917 | #38 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gabriel?
In official American birth records, the name Gabriel first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 15 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Gabriel a popular boy name?
Gabriel ranked #37 among boys in 2025 with 6,569 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #22.
When was the name Gabriel most popular?
Gabriel peaked in 2008, when 13,041 American boys received the name (ranked #24 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Gabriel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 274 newborn American boys was named Gabriel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.