Jamel
Boy name · #2774 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Jamel? In official American birth records, Jamel has been tracked continuously since 1950, giving it 75 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 46 baby boys were named Jamel, placing it at #2774 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1416, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 39,130 boys born in 2025 was named Jamel.
The 75-year story
Jamel first appears in the Social Security records in 1950, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1988, when 360 boys were named Jamel — good for #485 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.
Babies named Jamel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Jamel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Jamel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Jamel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Jamel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Jamel is most common
State-level data for Jamel 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 Jamel
Statistically, parents drawn to Jamel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Romel, Jamil, Jarvis, Jamar, and Nigel.
RomelJamilJarvisJamarNigelJamalFidelAnibal
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Jamel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 46 | #2765 |
| 2024 | 46 | #2789 |
| 2023 | 55 | #2441 |
| 2022 | 64 | #2243 |
| 2021 | 83 | #1853 |
| 2020 | 82 | #1815 |
| 2019 | 77 | #1917 |
| 2018 | 88 | #1744 |
| 2017 | 105 | #1554 |
| 2016 | 104 | #1575 |
| 2015 | 121 | #1416 |
| 2014 | 103 | #1551 |
| 2013 | 139 | #1255 |
| 2012 | 141 | #1249 |
| 2011 | 149 | #1183 |
| 2010 | 178 | #1082 |
| 2009 | 205 | #973 |
| 2008 | 182 | #1041 |
| 2007 | 205 | #959 |
| 2006 | 194 | #958 |
| 2005 | 207 | #879 |
| 2004 | 182 | #930 |
| 2003 | 200 | #861 |
| 2002 | 218 | #790 |
| 2001 | 191 | #845 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Jamel?
In official American birth records, the name Jamel first appeared in 1950 (over 75 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 75 years.
Is Jamel a popular boy name?
Jamel ranked #2774 among boys in 2025 with 46 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1416.
When was the name Jamel most popular?
Jamel peaked in 1988, when 360 American boys received the name (ranked #485 that year). Since 1988 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Jamel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 39,130 newborn American boys was named Jamel. 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.