Markel
Boy name · #3094 in 2025 · Uniqueness 92/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Markel scores 92 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. 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 sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
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
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. It scores 92/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.