Unisex name · since 1912
Athel
Since 1912, U.S. Social Security records show 298 babies named Athel, peaking in 1917. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #10,617 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 298
- born since 1912
- 1920s
- peak decade
298 boys have been named Athel since 1912, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Athel recorded 298 times among boys since 1912, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1912 to 1952.
- #10,617 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 298 born since 1912
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Athel ranks #10,617 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 298 born since 1912, peaking in the 1920s.
- #10,617 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 298
- born since 1912
- 1920s
- peak decade
Athel's 298 recorded births place it above 76.6% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by Arkansas.
Athel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Athel's full recorded timeline at 1928, 44% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 56% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1921, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1917 peak of 15 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Athel popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1912–1952
- Peak year (1917)
- 15
- Annual births at peak, across 41 years of records
Athel popularity over time - girls
36 total births recorded since 1919 (Athel as girls' name)
Athel by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (100 births, 34% of the file).
1920s was Athel's strongest decade.
100 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Athel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
82 births
- 1920s
1920s
100 births
- 1930s
1930s
87 births
- 1940s 17
1940s
17 births
- 1950s 12
1950s
12 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 100 births (34% of all-time use).
Athel by state
Where Athel concentrates geographically, total births since 1912
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Arkansas | | 5 | 1.7% |
5 of 298 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Athel? ▼
Where does Athel sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Athel most popular? ▼
Where is Athel most popular? ▼
Is Athel a unisex name? ▼
How long has the name Athel been used? ▼
What names are similar to Athel? ▼
What to do with Athel's data
- Athel's decade-level peak was the 1920s (100 total births); usage has since declined to 12 in the 1950s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Arkansas records the most Athels (5 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Arkansas names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Athel
Nearby Names Like Athel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Athel
Compare Athel side by side: Athel vs Atharv Athel vs Athan Athel vs Athanasios
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Athel: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1917)
Similar record span (~40 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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, 1912–1952 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
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 Athel 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 August 2026.