Nigel
Boy name · #2083 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Nigel? In official American birth records, Nigel has been tracked continuously since 1929, giving it 96 years of documented American history.
Nigel is currently the #2083 boy name in the United States — 71 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1111, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 25,352 boys born in 2025 was named Nigel.
The 96-year story
Nigel first appears in the Social Security records in 1929, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1994, when 448 boys were named Nigel — good for #477 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 Nigel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nigel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nigel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nigel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nigel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nigel is most common
State-level data for Nigel 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 Nigel
Statistically, parents drawn to Nigel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Fidel, Jaleel, Mykel, Romel, and Mikel.
FidelJaleelMykelRomelMikelNabeelJamelTyrell
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nigel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71 | #2077 |
| 2024 | 66 | #2190 |
| 2023 | 73 | #2047 |
| 2022 | 71 | #2094 |
| 2021 | 94 | #1721 |
| 2020 | 80 | #1849 |
| 2019 | 108 | #1548 |
| 2018 | 125 | #1401 |
| 2017 | 150 | #1219 |
| 2016 | 146 | #1254 |
| 2015 | 173 | #1111 |
| 2014 | 155 | #1188 |
| 2013 | 170 | #1090 |
| 2012 | 178 | #1065 |
| 2011 | 194 | #998 |
| 2010 | 216 | #933 |
| 2009 | 249 | #856 |
| 2008 | 271 | #809 |
| 2007 | 303 | #742 |
| 2006 | 309 | #707 |
| 2005 | 276 | #733 |
| 2004 | 237 | #766 |
| 2003 | 266 | #706 |
| 2002 | 280 | #667 |
| 2001 | 305 | #622 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nigel?
In official American birth records, the name Nigel first appeared in 1929 (over 96 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 96 years.
Is Nigel a popular boy name?
Nigel ranked #2083 among boys in 2025 with 71 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1111.
When was the name Nigel most popular?
Nigel peaked in 1994, when 448 American boys received the name (ranked #477 that year). Since 1994 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nigel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 25,352 newborn American boys was named Nigel. 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.