Royal
Boy name · #476 in 2025 · Uniqueness 59/100
Royal is currently the #476 boy name in the United States — 640 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #465, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,813 boys born in 2025 was named Royal.
The 145-year story
Royal first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 26 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 888 boys were named Royal — good for #369 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 Royal per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Royal against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Royal in class?
Royal scores 59 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 Royal is most common
Geography matters for names, and Royal is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Royals were TX (66), GA (49), CA (43), FL (42), NC (36). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Royal
Statistically, parents drawn to Royal tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Loyal, Ronin, Rowen, Royce, and Remy.
LoyalRoninRowenRoyceRemyRidgeRaidenRayan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Royal | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 640 | #476 |
| 2024 | 745 | #424 |
| 2023 | 795 | #401 |
| 2022 | 880 | #369 |
| 2021 | 888 | #369 |
| 2020 | 740 | #405 |
| 2019 | 653 | #458 |
| 2018 | 610 | #479 |
| 2017 | 577 | #502 |
| 2016 | 662 | #461 |
| 2015 | 648 | #465 |
| 2014 | 489 | #570 |
| 2013 | 235 | #886 |
| 2012 | 194 | #1015 |
| 2011 | 148 | #1193 |
| 2010 | 145 | #1219 |
| 2009 | 122 | #1390 |
| 2008 | 110 | #1482 |
| 2007 | 115 | #1412 |
| 2006 | 75 | #1823 |
| 2005 | 68 | #1869 |
| 2004 | 61 | #1974 |
| 2003 | 53 | #2102 |
| 2002 | 53 | #2046 |
| 2001 | 57 | #1912 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Royal a popular boy name?
Royal ranked #476 among boys in 2025 with 640 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #465.
When was the name Royal most popular?
Royal peaked in 2021, when 888 American boys received the name (ranked #369 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Royal?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,813 newborn American boys was named Royal. It scores 59/100 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.