Wheeler
Boy name · #3452 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Wheeler? In official American birth records, Wheeler has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Wheeler ranks #3452 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 33 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #4890, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 54,545 boys born in 2025 was named Wheeler.
Babies named Wheeler per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Wheeler first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 13 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 45 babies and a rank of #2835. 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 Wheeler against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Wheeler in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Wheeler is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Wheeler will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Wheeler is most common
State-level data for Wheeler 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 Wheeler
Statistically, parents drawn to Wheeler tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Wrangler, Kessler, Khyler, Kailer, and Whittaker.
WranglerKesslerKhylerKailerWhittakerRainierCutlerProsper
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Wheeler | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | #3450 |
| 2024 | 45 | #2835 |
| 2023 | 38 | #3177 |
| 2022 | 34 | #3412 |
| 2021 | 33 | #3427 |
| 2020 | 17 | #5235 |
| 2019 | 37 | #3143 |
| 2018 | 34 | #3301 |
| 2017 | 22 | #4466 |
| 2016 | 20 | #4776 |
| 2015 | 19 | #4890 |
| 2014 | 21 | #4538 |
| 2013 | 16 | #5404 |
| 2012 | 17 | #5256 |
| 2011 | 17 | #5200 |
| 2010 | 17 | #5251 |
| 2009 | 19 | #4922 |
| 2008 | 14 | #6070 |
| 2007 | 7 | #9788 |
| 2006 | 7 | #9585 |
| 2005 | 6 | #10151 |
| 2004 | 14 | #5492 |
| 2003 | 11 | #6258 |
| 2002 | 9 | #7055 |
| 2001 | 10 | #6445 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Wheeler?
In official American birth records, the name Wheeler first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 13 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Wheeler a popular boy name?
Wheeler ranked #3452 among boys in 2025 with 33 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4890.
When was the name Wheeler most popular?
Wheeler peaked in 2024, when 45 American boys received the name (ranked #2835 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Wheeler?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 54,545 newborn American boys was named Wheeler. 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.