Lyle
Boy name · #1047 in 2025 · Uniqueness 63/100
Lyle ranks #1047 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 211 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1077, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,531 boys born in 2025 was named Lyle.
Babies named Lyle per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Lyle first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1922, when 1,055 boys were named Lyle — good for #146 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 Lyle against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Lyle in class?
Lyle scores 63 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Lyle is most common
Geography matters for names, and Lyle is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Lyles were CA (19), WI (13), OH (12), IL (10), FL (9). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Lyle
Statistically, parents drawn to Lyle tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Leroy, Clyde, Luther, Wallace, and Emile.
LeroyClydeLutherWallaceEmileMauriceEugeneEdmund
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Lyle | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 211 | #1046 |
| 2024 | 219 | #1019 |
| 2023 | 192 | #1105 |
| 2022 | 209 | #1052 |
| 2021 | 217 | #1006 |
| 2020 | 207 | #1010 |
| 2019 | 235 | #927 |
| 2018 | 220 | #946 |
| 2017 | 205 | #993 |
| 2016 | 208 | #980 |
| 2015 | 183 | #1077 |
| 2014 | 172 | #1110 |
| 2013 | 168 | #1100 |
| 2012 | 133 | #1299 |
| 2011 | 137 | #1257 |
| 2010 | 101 | #1565 |
| 2009 | 86 | #1762 |
| 2008 | 78 | #1861 |
| 2007 | 86 | #1728 |
| 2006 | 104 | #1467 |
| 2005 | 83 | #1635 |
| 2004 | 79 | #1629 |
| 2003 | 117 | #1233 |
| 2002 | 107 | #1268 |
| 2001 | 100 | #1307 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Lyle a popular boy name?
Lyle ranked #1047 among boys in 2025 with 211 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1077.
When was the name Lyle most popular?
Lyle peaked in 1922, when 1,055 American boys received the name (ranked #146 that year). Since 1922 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Lyle?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,531 newborn American boys was named Lyle. It scores 63/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.