Boys' name · since 1888
Buel
Buel has 1,135 recorded births since 1888 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1922 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #4,738 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,135
- born since 1888
- 1920s
- peak decade
1,135 boys have been named Buel since 1888, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Buel recorded 1,135 times among boys since 1888, 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 1888 to 1972.
- #4,738 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 1,135 born since 1888
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Buel ranks #4,738 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,135 born since 1888, peaking in the 1920s.
- #4,738 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,135
- born since 1888
- 1920s
- peak decade
Buel's 1,135 recorded births place it above 89.58% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
7 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Kentucky.
Buel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Buel splits its recorded history at 1934: 32% of all births land in the more recent half, 68% 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 1922 peak of 65 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Buel popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1888–1972
- Peak year (1922)
- 65
- Annual births at peak, across 85 years of records
Buel by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (397 births, 35% of the file).
1920s was Buel's strongest decade.
397 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 35% of all-time use.
Buel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1890s 14
1890s
14 births
- 1900s 31
1900s
31 births
- 1910s
1910s
215 births
- 1920s
1920s
397 births
- 1930s
1930s
213 births
- 1940s 140
1940s
140 births
- 1950s 79
1950s
79 births
- 1960s 36
1960s
36 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 397 births (35% of all-time use).
How Buel 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 Buel's total volume
Buel by state
Where Buel concentrates geographically, total births since 1888
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kentucky | | 81 | 7.1% |
| #2 | Missouri | | 42 | 3.7% |
| #3 | Arkansas | | 32 | 2.8% |
| #4 | Alabama | | 29 | 2.6% |
| #5 | Texas | | 27 | 2.4% |
| #6 | Oklahoma | | 24 | 2.1% |
| #7 | North Carolina | | 8 | 0.7% |
81 of 1,135 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Buel? ▼
Where does Buel sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Buel most popular? ▼
Where is Buel most popular? ▼
How long has the name Buel been used? ▼
What names are similar to Buel? ▼
What to do with Buel's data
- Buel's decade-level peak was the 1920s (397 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Kentucky records the most Buels (81 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Kentucky names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Buel
Nearby Names Like Buel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Buel
Compare Buel side by side: Buel vs Buell Buel vs Bueford Buel vs Buenaventura
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Buel: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1922)
Similar record span (~84 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, 1888–1972 (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 Buel 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.