Total births
1,197
Girls' name · since 1981
Arial
Since 1981, U.S. Social Security records show 1,197 babies named Arial, peaking in 1991. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,197
- total births
- 1981–2025
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 36%
- born in that decade
Arial sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 1,197 recorded since 1981.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Arial has been recorded 1,197 times among girls since 1981, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1981 to 2025.
- 1,197 total births
- 1981–2025 years on record
- 1990s peak decade
- 36% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,197 girls have been named Arial since 1981, peaking in the 1990s, last recorded in 2025.
- 1,197
- total births
- 1981–2025
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 36%
- born in that decade
1990s
Peak decade
36% of everyone ever named Arial was born in this single decade.
1991
Single peak year
69 babies were named Arial in 1991 - its busiest year on record.
Arial's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Arial's SSA record in two at 2002 and the more recent half accounts for 48% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 52%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1981, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1991 peak of 69, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Arial at a glance
Last recorded 2025Peak year
1991
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1981
Arial popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1981–2025
- Peak year (1991)
- 69
- Annual births at peak, across 45 years of records
Arial by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Arial's strongest decade.
431 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 36% of all-time use.
Arial births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 102
1980s
102 births
- 1990s
1990s
431 births
- 2000s
2000s
414 births
- 2010s
2010s
219 births
- 2020s 31
2020s
31 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 431 births (36% of all-time use).
How Arial compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Arial's total volume
Arial vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Arial by state
Where Arial concentrates geographically, total births since 1981
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 89 | 7.4% |
| #2 | California | | 39 | 3.3% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 17 | 1.4% |
| #4 | Georgia | | 15 | 1.3% |
| #5 | Indiana | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Minnesota | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #7 | Ohio | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #8 | Wisconsin | | 5 | 0.4% |
Texas share of Arial's total US births 7.4%
Even split
89 of 1,197 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Arial? ▼
1,197 babies have been named Arial since 1981. It was last recorded in 2025. The peak year was 1991 with 69 births.
When was Arial most popular? ▼
Arial was most popular in the 1990s decade with 431 total births. The single peak year was 1991.
Where is Arial most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Arial are Texas (89 births), California (39 births), Illinois (17 births).
How long has the name Arial been used? ▼
Arial has been recorded in Social Security data since 1981, spanning 45 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Arial? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Ariana, Arianna, Aria, Ariel, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Arial's data
- Arial's decade-level peak was the 1990s (431 total births); usage has since declined to 31 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Arials (89 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Arial
Nearby Names Like Arial
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Arial
Ariana Girl
#102 120,380 births
Arianna Girl
#196 104,152 births
Aria Girl
#26 95,674 births
Ariel Girl
#300 78,697 births
Arielle Girl
#499 30,870 births
Compare Arial side by side: Arial vs Ariana Arial vs Arianna Arial vs Aria
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1981–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Arial: Baby Name Since 1981 - 1,197 Births, Peak 1991." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/arial. 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 Arial 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 July 2026.