Rael
Boy name · #2530 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Rael? In official American birth records, Rael has been tracked continuously since 1979, giving it 46 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 53 baby boys were named Rael, placing it at #2530 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #9568, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 33,962 boys born in 2025 was named Rael.
Babies named Rael per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 46-year story
Rael first appears in the Social Security records in 1979, when 8 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 61 babies and a rank of #2313. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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 Rael against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rael in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rael is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Rael will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Rael is most common
State-level data for Rael 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 Rael
Statistically, parents drawn to Rael tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Sael, Dael, Zael, Adael, and Ezrael.
SaelDaelZaelAdaelEzraelEzaelLaelMael
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rael | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 53 | #2516 |
| 2024 | 61 | #2313 |
| 2023 | 26 | #4112 |
| 2022 | 46 | #2793 |
| 2021 | 26 | #4011 |
| 2020 | 18 | #5041 |
| 2019 | 19 | #4951 |
| 2018 | 22 | #4476 |
| 2017 | 21 | #4594 |
| 2016 | 6 | #10744 |
| 2015 | 7 | #9568 |
| 2014 | 8 | #8781 |
| 2013 | 10 | #7537 |
| 2012 | 6 | #10770 |
| 2011 | 8 | #8767 |
| 2010 | 7 | #9693 |
| 2009 | 9 | #8310 |
| 2008 | 8 | #9019 |
| 2007 | 6 | #10921 |
| 2006 | 13 | #6094 |
| 2005 | 7 | #9115 |
| 2004 | 7 | #8927 |
| 2003 | 10 | #6715 |
| 2001 | 5 | #10556 |
| 2000 | 5 | #10349 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Rael?
In official American birth records, the name Rael first appeared in 1979 (over 46 years ago), when 8 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 46 years.
Is Rael a popular boy name?
Rael ranked #2530 among boys in 2025 with 53 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #9568.
When was the name Rael most popular?
Rael peaked in 2024, when 61 American boys received the name (ranked #2313 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Rael?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 33,962 newborn American boys was named Rael. 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.