Pavel
Boy name · #3202 in 2025 · Uniqueness 66/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Pavel scores 66 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Pavel is most common
State-level data for Pavel is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
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
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. It scores 66/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.