Markel
Boy name · #3094 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Markel? In official American birth records, Markel has been tracked continuously since 1948, giving it 77 years of documented American history.
Markel is currently the #3094 boy name in the United States — 39 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1502, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 46,154 boys born in 2025 was named Markel.
Babies named Markel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 77-year story
Markel first appears in the Social Security records in 1948, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 172 boys were named Markel — good for #880 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 Markel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Markel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Markel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Markel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Markel is most common
State-level data for Markel 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 Markel
Statistically, parents drawn to Markel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mykel, Mikel, Nabeel, Markell, and Marshal.
MykelMikelNabeelMarkellMarshalKhaleelJaleelMaleek
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Markel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 39 | #3089 |
| 2024 | 49 | #2674 |
| 2023 | 63 | #2244 |
| 2022 | 62 | #2299 |
| 2021 | 73 | #2026 |
| 2020 | 81 | #1833 |
| 2019 | 86 | #1790 |
| 2018 | 85 | #1792 |
| 2017 | 81 | #1829 |
| 2016 | 92 | #1694 |
| 2015 | 110 | #1502 |
| 2014 | 95 | #1627 |
| 2013 | 110 | #1483 |
| 2012 | 107 | #1498 |
| 2011 | 123 | #1364 |
| 2010 | 126 | #1349 |
| 2009 | 144 | #1241 |
| 2008 | 147 | #1198 |
| 2007 | 139 | #1263 |
| 2006 | 138 | #1214 |
| 2005 | 169 | #1005 |
| 2004 | 149 | #1071 |
| 2003 | 136 | #1122 |
| 2002 | 118 | #1184 |
| 2001 | 164 | #944 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Markel?
In official American birth records, the name Markel first appeared in 1948 (over 77 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 77 years.
Is Markel a popular boy name?
Markel ranked #3094 among boys in 2025 with 39 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1502.
When was the name Markel most popular?
Markel peaked in 1999, when 172 American boys received the name (ranked #880 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Markel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 46,154 newborn American boys was named Markel. 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.