Mikel
Boy name · #1921 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Mikel? In official American birth records, Mikel has been tracked continuously since 1882, giving it 143 years of documented American history.
Mikel ranks #1921 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 81 newborns given the name that year. That compares with #1228 ten years earlier — a gradual slide in the rankings. Roughly one in every 22,222 boys born in 2025 was named Mikel.
Babies named Mikel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 143-year story
Mikel first appears in the Social Security records in 1882, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2004, when 201 boys were named Mikel — good for #871 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 Mikel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Mikel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Mikel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Mikel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Mikel is most common
State-level data for Mikel 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 Mikel
Statistically, parents drawn to Mikel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Mykel, Markel, Fidel, Roel, and Nigel.
MykelMarkelFidelRoelNigelMarkoMauroRomel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Mikel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 81 | #1919 |
| 2024 | 92 | #1776 |
| 2023 | 107 | #1623 |
| 2022 | 116 | #1540 |
| 2021 | 111 | #1565 |
| 2020 | 120 | #1437 |
| 2019 | 121 | #1441 |
| 2018 | 154 | #1217 |
| 2017 | 138 | #1306 |
| 2016 | 146 | #1254 |
| 2015 | 149 | #1228 |
| 2014 | 165 | #1147 |
| 2013 | 155 | #1162 |
| 2012 | 157 | #1161 |
| 2011 | 159 | #1136 |
| 2010 | 172 | #1108 |
| 2009 | 166 | #1112 |
| 2008 | 182 | #1041 |
| 2007 | 184 | #1025 |
| 2006 | 188 | #985 |
| 2005 | 181 | #964 |
| 2004 | 201 | #871 |
| 2003 | 166 | #969 |
| 2002 | 169 | #948 |
| 2001 | 180 | #878 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Mikel?
In official American birth records, the name Mikel first appeared in 1882 (over 143 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Mikel a popular boy name?
Mikel ranked #1921 among boys in 2025 with 81 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1228.
When was the name Mikel most popular?
Mikel peaked in 2004, when 201 American boys received the name (ranked #871 that year). Since 2004 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Mikel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 22,222 newborn American boys was named Mikel. 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.