Total births
1,099
Boys' name · since 1888
Ancil
Since 1888, U.S. Social Security records show 1,099 babies named Ancil, peaking in 1920. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,099
- total births
- 1888–2017
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 23%
- born in that decade
Ancil is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,099 have been recorded since 1888.
Ancil has 1,099 recorded births among boys since 1888, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1888 to 2017.
- 1,099 total births
- 1888–2017 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 23% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,099 boys have been named Ancil since 1888, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2017.
- 1,099
- total births
- 1888–2017
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 23%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
23% of everyone ever named Ancil was born in this single decade.
1920
Single peak year
35 babies were named Ancil in 1920 - its busiest year on record.
Ancil's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Ancil splits its recorded history at 1944: 33% of all births land in the more recent half, 67% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1888 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1920 peak of 35 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Ancil at a glance
Last recorded 2017Peak year
1920
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1888
Ancil popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1888–2017
- Peak year (1920)
- 35
- Annual births at peak, across 130 years of records
Ancil by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Ancil's strongest decade.
252 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.
Ancil births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1890s 10
1890s
10 births
- 1900s 16
1900s
16 births
- 1910s
1910s
166 births
- 1920s
1920s
252 births
- 1930s
1930s
215 births
- 1940s
1940s
174 births
- 1950s
1950s
109 births
- 1960s 63
1960s
63 births
- 1970s 36
1970s
36 births
- 1980s 28
1980s
28 births
- 1990s 15
1990s
15 births
- 2010s 10
2010s
10 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 252 births (23% of all-time use).
How Ancil compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Ancil's total volume
Ancil vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Ancil by state
Where Ancil concentrates geographically, total births since 1888
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kentucky | | 115 | 10.5% |
| #2 | Tennessee | | 22 | 2.0% |
| #3 | West Virginia | | 10 | 0.9% |
| #4 | Indiana | | 7 | 0.6% |
| #5 | Arkansas | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 5 | 0.5% |
Kentucky share of Ancil's total US births 10.5%
Even split
115 of 1,099 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 6 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ancil? ▼
Since 1888, Social Security records show 1,099 babies named Ancil. The most recent recorded year was 2017. Its busiest year on record was 1920, with 35 births.
When was Ancil most popular? ▼
Ancil was most popular in the 1920s decade with 252 total births. The single peak year was 1920.
Where is Ancil most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Ancil are Kentucky (115 births), Tennessee (22 births), West Virginia (10 births).
How long has the name Ancil been used? ▼
Ancil has been recorded in Social Security data since 1888, spanning 130 years of data through 2017.
What names are similar to Ancil? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Ancel, Anchor, Ancelmo, Ance, and 1 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Ancil's data
- Ancil's decade-level peak was the 1920s (252 total births); usage has since declined to 10 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Kentucky records the most Ancils (115 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Kentucky names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Ancil
Nearby Names Like Ancil
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ancil
Ancel Boy
751 births
Anchor Boy
#8191 149 births
Ancelmo Boy
56 births
Ance Boy
54 births
Ancle Boy
38 births
Compare Ancil side by side: Ancil vs Ancel Ancil vs Anchor Ancil vs Ancelmo
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1888–2017 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ancil: Baby Name Since 1888 - 1,099 Births, Peak 1920." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ancil. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Ancil draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.