Miguel
Boy name · #212 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Miguel? In official American birth records, Miguel has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Miguel ranks #212 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 1,661 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #161, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,084 boys born in 2025 was named Miguel.
The 145-year story
Miguel first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 12 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 4,906 boys were named Miguel — good for #94 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 Miguel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Miguel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Miguel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Miguel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Miguel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Miguel is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Miguel is most common in NM (3.4 per 1,000), AZ (2.3 per 1,000), TX (2 per 1,000), CA (1.9 per 1,000), KS (1.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Miguel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Miguel
Statistically, parents drawn to Miguel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Manuel, Emmanuel, Rafael, Emanuel, and Israel.
ManuelEmmanuelRafaelEmanuelIsraelMaxwellNathanielAndres
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Miguel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,661 | #212 |
| 2024 | 1,931 | #189 |
| 2023 | 1,895 | #194 |
| 2022 | 2,040 | #185 |
| 2021 | 1,950 | #196 |
| 2020 | 2,053 | #189 |
| 2019 | 2,185 | #178 |
| 2018 | 2,185 | #179 |
| 2017 | 2,280 | #176 |
| 2016 | 2,507 | #163 |
| 2015 | 2,573 | #161 |
| 2014 | 2,757 | #147 |
| 2013 | 2,888 | #135 |
| 2012 | 2,942 | #131 |
| 2011 | 3,169 | #126 |
| 2010 | 3,457 | #113 |
| 2009 | 4,174 | #100 |
| 2008 | 4,450 | #101 |
| 2007 | 4,906 | #94 |
| 2006 | 4,903 | #89 |
| 2005 | 4,677 | #93 |
| 2004 | 4,525 | #96 |
| 2003 | 4,592 | #95 |
| 2002 | 4,644 | #89 |
| 2001 | 4,558 | #87 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Miguel?
In official American birth records, the name Miguel first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 12 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Miguel a popular boy name?
Miguel ranked #212 among boys in 2025 with 1,661 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #161.
When was the name Miguel most popular?
Miguel peaked in 2007, when 4,906 American boys received the name (ranked #94 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Miguel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,084 newborn American boys was named Miguel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.