Pavel
Boy name · #3202 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Pavel? In official American birth records, Pavel has been tracked continuously since 1971, giving it 54 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 37 baby boys were named Pavel, placing it at #3202 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3299, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 48,649 boys born in 2025 was named Pavel.
Babies named Pavel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 54-year story
Pavel first appears in the Social Security records in 1971, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 83 boys were named Pavel — good for #1792 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 Pavel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Pavel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Pavel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Pavel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Pavel is most common
State-level data for Pavel 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 Pavel
Statistically, parents drawn to Pavel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Uzziel, Jeriel, Kamil, Jahleel, and Markel.
UzzielJerielKamilJahleelMarkelJanielNikhilNeel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Pavel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 37 | #3181 |
| 2024 | 36 | #3272 |
| 2023 | 32 | #3566 |
| 2022 | 31 | #3617 |
| 2021 | 25 | #4118 |
| 2020 | 27 | #3811 |
| 2019 | 35 | #3259 |
| 2018 | 40 | #2943 |
| 2017 | 41 | #2891 |
| 2016 | 40 | #2935 |
| 2015 | 34 | #3299 |
| 2014 | 48 | #2542 |
| 2013 | 45 | #2623 |
| 2012 | 54 | #2358 |
| 2011 | 43 | #2748 |
| 2010 | 47 | #2579 |
| 2009 | 71 | #1975 |
| 2008 | 83 | #1792 |
| 2007 | 74 | #1912 |
| 2006 | 62 | #2102 |
| 2005 | 59 | #2081 |
| 2004 | 63 | #1934 |
| 2003 | 53 | #2102 |
| 2002 | 45 | #2295 |
| 2001 | 41 | #2386 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Pavel?
In official American birth records, the name Pavel first appeared in 1971 (over 54 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 54 years.
Is Pavel a popular boy name?
Pavel ranked #3202 among boys in 2025 with 37 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3299.
When was the name Pavel most popular?
Pavel peaked in 2008, when 83 American boys received the name (ranked #1792 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Pavel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 48,649 newborn American boys was named Pavel. 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.