Total births
298
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.
- 298
- total births
- 1912–1952
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 34%
- born in that 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.
- 298 total births
- 1912–1952 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 34% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
298 boys have been named Athel since 1912, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1952.
- 298
- total births
- 1912–1952
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 34%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Athel was born in this single decade.
1917
Single peak year
15 babies were named Athel in 1917 - its busiest year on record.
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 at a glance
Last recorded 1952Peak year
1917
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1912
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
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
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% |
Arkansas share of Athel's total US births 1.7%
5 of 298 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Athel? ▼
Since 1912, Social Security records show 298 babies named Athel. The most recent recorded year was 1952. Its busiest year on record was 1917, with 15 births.
When was Athel most popular? ▼
Athel was most popular in the 1920s decade with 100 total births. The single peak year was 1917.
Where is Athel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Athel are Arkansas (5 births).
Is Athel a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Athel is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 298 births, and as a girl's name it has 36 births.
How long has the name Athel been used? ▼
Athel has been recorded in Social Security data since 1912, spanning 41 years of data through 1952.
What names are similar to Athel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Atharv, Athan, Athanasios, Atharva, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
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
- 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 Athel
Nearby Names Like Athel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Athel
Atharv Boy
#1004 2,385 births
Athan Boy
#2318 2,173 births
Athanasios Boy
#4459 1,284 births
Atharva Boy
#2207 1,094 births
Athen Boy
#4505 692 births
Compare Athel side by side: Athel vs Atharv Athel vs Athan Athel vs Athanasios
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, 1912–1952 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Athel: Baby Name Since 1912 - 298 Births, Peak 1917." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/athel. 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 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 June 2026.