Neel
Boy name · #1576 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Neel? In official American birth records, Neel has been tracked continuously since 1918, giving it 107 years of documented American history.
Neel ranks #1576 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 108 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1657, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 16,667 boys born in 2025 was named Neel.
Babies named Neel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 107-year story
Neel first appears in the Social Security records in 1918, when 8 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2009, when 148 boys were named Neel — good for #1214 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 Neel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Neel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Neel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Neel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Neel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Neel is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Neel is most common in NJ (0.3 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Neel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Neel
Statistically, parents drawn to Neel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jael, Nabeel, Jahleel, Yoel, and Nate.
JaelNabeelJahleelYoelNateCaelPavelSteel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Neel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 108 | #1571 |
| 2024 | 87 | #1856 |
| 2023 | 67 | #2147 |
| 2022 | 103 | #1665 |
| 2021 | 94 | #1721 |
| 2020 | 83 | #1798 |
| 2019 | 81 | #1849 |
| 2018 | 86 | #1777 |
| 2017 | 115 | #1467 |
| 2016 | 98 | #1628 |
| 2015 | 95 | #1657 |
| 2014 | 90 | #1691 |
| 2013 | 81 | #1782 |
| 2012 | 81 | #1818 |
| 2011 | 97 | #1587 |
| 2010 | 140 | #1250 |
| 2009 | 148 | #1214 |
| 2008 | 108 | #1504 |
| 2007 | 122 | #1365 |
| 2006 | 93 | #1575 |
| 2005 | 82 | #1648 |
| 2004 | 86 | #1542 |
| 2003 | 82 | #1548 |
| 2002 | 71 | #1660 |
| 2001 | 76 | #1572 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Neel?
In official American birth records, the name Neel first appeared in 1918 (over 107 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 107 years.
Is Neel a popular boy name?
Neel ranked #1576 among boys in 2025 with 108 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1657.
When was the name Neel most popular?
Neel peaked in 2009, when 148 American boys received the name (ranked #1214 that year). Since 2009 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Neel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 16,667 newborn American boys was named Neel. 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.