Immanuel
Boy name · #1206 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Immanuel? In official American birth records, Immanuel has been tracked continuously since 1917, giving it 108 years of documented American history.
Immanuel ranks #1206 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 168 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #906, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,714 boys born in 2025 was named Immanuel.
Babies named Immanuel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 108-year story
Immanuel first appears in the Social Security records in 1917, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2015, when 239 boys were named Immanuel — good for #906 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 Immanuel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Immanuel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Immanuel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Immanuel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Immanuel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Immanuel is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Immanuel is most common in VA (0.3 per 1,000), PA (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Immanuel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Immanuel
Statistically, parents drawn to Immanuel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ishmael, Shmuel, Emanuel, Natanael, and Kemuel.
IshmaelShmuelEmanuelNatanaelKemuelEnmanuelMikaelIsmail
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Immanuel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 168 | #1204 |
| 2024 | 168 | #1205 |
| 2023 | 180 | #1156 |
| 2022 | 160 | #1228 |
| 2021 | 160 | #1207 |
| 2020 | 173 | #1130 |
| 2019 | 204 | #1018 |
| 2018 | 214 | #970 |
| 2017 | 200 | #1010 |
| 2016 | 214 | #963 |
| 2015 | 239 | #906 |
| 2014 | 203 | #1008 |
| 2013 | 200 | #991 |
| 2012 | 208 | #968 |
| 2011 | 169 | #1097 |
| 2010 | 177 | #1086 |
| 2009 | 197 | #998 |
| 2008 | 228 | #909 |
| 2007 | 204 | #967 |
| 2006 | 185 | #997 |
| 2005 | 191 | #919 |
| 2004 | 170 | #981 |
| 2003 | 133 | #1134 |
| 2002 | 161 | #976 |
| 2001 | 177 | #891 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Immanuel?
In official American birth records, the name Immanuel first appeared in 1917 (over 108 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 108 years.
Is Immanuel a popular boy name?
Immanuel ranked #1206 among boys in 2025 with 168 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #906.
When was the name Immanuel most popular?
Immanuel peaked in 2015, when 239 American boys received the name (ranked #906 that year). Since 2015 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Immanuel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,714 newborn American boys was named Immanuel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.