Total births
2,202
Boys' name · since 1894
Arvel
Since 1894, U.S. Social Security records show 2,202 babies named Arvel, peaking in 1921. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 2,202
- total births
- 1894–2006
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
2,202 boys have been named Arvel since 1894, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Arvel has 2,202 recorded births among boys since 1894, 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 1894 to 2006.
- 2,202 total births
- 1894–2006 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 27% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
2,202 boys have been named Arvel since 1894, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2006.
- 2,202
- total births
- 1894–2006
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
27% of everyone ever named Arvel was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
77 babies were named Arvel in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
Arvel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Arvel splits its recorded history at 1941: 30% of all births land in the more recent half, 70% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1903 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1921 peak of 77 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Arvel at a glance
Last recorded 2006Peak year
1921
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1894
Arvel popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1894–2006
- Peak year (1921)
- 77
- Annual births at peak, across 113 years of records
Arvel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Arvel's strongest decade.
591 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Arvel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 20
1890s
20 births
- 1900s 66
1900s
66 births
- 1910s
1910s
433 births
- 1920s
1920s
591 births
- 1930s
1930s
401 births
- 1940s
1940s
291 births
- 1950s 158
1950s
158 births
- 1960s 127
1960s
127 births
- 1970s 84
1970s
84 births
- 1980s 14
1980s
14 births
- 1990s 12
1990s
12 births
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 591 births (27% of all-time use).
How Arvel 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 Arvel's total volume
Arvel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Arvel by state
Where Arvel concentrates geographically, total births since 1894
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kentucky | | 175 | 7.9% |
| #2 | Texas | | 159 | 7.2% |
| #3 | Oklahoma | | 100 | 4.5% |
| #4 | Arkansas | | 82 | 3.7% |
| #5 | Tennessee | | 68 | 3.1% |
| #6 | Missouri | | 47 | 2.1% |
| #7 | Alabama | | 35 | 1.6% |
| #8 | North Carolina | | 22 | 1.0% |
Kentucky share of Arvel's total US births 7.9%
Even split
175 of 2,202 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 11 reporting states.
Arvel appears in 11 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Arvel? ▼
Arvel has been given to 2,202 babies in the U.S. since 1894, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2006. 77 babies were born in 1921, its single highest year.
When was Arvel most popular? ▼
Arvel was most popular in the 1920s decade with 591 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Arvel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Arvel are Kentucky (175 births), Texas (159 births), Oklahoma (100 births).
How long has the name Arvel been used? ▼
Arvel has been recorded in Social Security data since 1894, spanning 113 years of data through 2006.
What names are similar to Arvel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Arvin, Arvid, Arvil, Arville, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Arvel's data
- Arvel's decade-level peak was the 1920s (591 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Kentucky records the most Arvels (175 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 Arvel
Nearby Names Like Arvel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Arvel
Arvin Boy
#2102 5,385 births
Arvid Boy
#8998 3,167 births
Arvil Boy
2,589 births
Arville Boy
758 births
Arvis Boy
640 births
Compare Arvel side by side: Arvel vs Arvin Arvel vs Arvid Arvel vs Arvil
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Berkley #3341
2,202 births · Peak 2013
Servando #5940
2,203 births · Peak 2007
Worth #4321
2,204 births · Peak 1918
Claire
2,204 births · Peak 1923
Taylen #1519
2,206 births · Peak 2021
Ciaran #1772
2,198 births · Peak 2025
Arsenio #5680
2,207 births · Peak 1989
Ashwin #3478
2,207 births · Peak 2001
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, 1894–2006 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Arvel: Baby Name Since 1894 - 2,202 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/arvel. 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 Arvel 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.