Neal
Boy name · #1907 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Neal? In official American birth records, Neal has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 82 baby boys were named Neal, placing it at #1907 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1210, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 21,951 boys born in 2025 was named Neal.
Babies named Neal per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Neal first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 43 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1959, when 1,222 boys were named Neal — good for #222 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. The shape of the curve is what tells you whether Neal will feel fresh or everywhere by the time your child starts school.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Neal against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Neal in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Neal is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Neal will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Neal is most common
State-level data for Neal 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 Neal
Statistically, parents drawn to Neal tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Micheal, Karl, Neil, Hal, and Nick.
MichealKarlNeilHalNickCarlDarylPete
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Neal | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 82 | #1906 |
| 2024 | 77 | #1997 |
| 2023 | 95 | #1735 |
| 2022 | 110 | #1597 |
| 2021 | 110 | #1577 |
| 2020 | 104 | #1568 |
| 2019 | 118 | #1468 |
| 2018 | 102 | #1606 |
| 2017 | 132 | #1348 |
| 2016 | 152 | #1229 |
| 2015 | 152 | #1210 |
| 2014 | 120 | #1402 |
| 2013 | 99 | #1568 |
| 2012 | 105 | #1523 |
| 2011 | 97 | #1587 |
| 2010 | 114 | #1447 |
| 2009 | 113 | #1472 |
| 2008 | 112 | #1467 |
| 2007 | 116 | #1405 |
| 2006 | 139 | #1202 |
| 2005 | 131 | #1209 |
| 2004 | 112 | #1316 |
| 2003 | 129 | #1159 |
| 2002 | 169 | #948 |
| 2001 | 172 | #908 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Neal?
In official American birth records, the name Neal first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 43 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Neal a popular boy name?
Neal ranked #1907 among boys in 2025 with 82 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1210.
When was the name Neal most popular?
Neal peaked in 1959, when 1,222 American boys received the name (ranked #222 that year). Since 1959 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Neal?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 21,951 newborn American boys was named Neal. 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.