Total births
4,618
Unisex name · since 1897
Carnell
Carnell has 4,618 recorded births since 1897 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1958 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #10983
- among boys today
- 4,618
- born since 1897
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 23%
- more common than other boys
4,618 babies have been named Carnell since 1897, making it today's #10983 unisex name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Carnell has been recorded 4,618 times among boys since 1897, currently ranked #10983 nationally and more common than 23% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 1950s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1897 to 2025.
- #10983 among boys today
- 4,618 born since 1897
- 1950s peak decade
- 23% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Carnell is currently the #10983 unisex name in America, more common than 23% of boys - 4,618 born since 1897, peaking in the 1950s.
- #10983
- among boys today
- 4,618
- born since 1897
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 23%
- more common than other boys
Carnell vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#10983
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 23% of names given to boys today.
1950s
Peak decade
16% of everyone ever named Carnell was born in this single decade.
1958
Single peak year
92 babies were named Carnell in 1958 - its busiest year on record.
How Carnell compares
4,618 Top 13% higher than 87% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Carnell's all-time total is 13x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Carnell | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 4,618 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 92 | 23 | 22,252 |
Carnell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Carnell's SSA record in two at 1969 and the more recent half accounts for 50% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 50%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1897, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1958 peak of 92, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Carnell at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1958
Current rank
#10,983
Active since
1897
Carnell popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1897–2025
- Peak year (1958)
- 92
- Annual births at peak, across 129 years of records
Carnell popularity over time - girls
546 total births recorded since 1913 (Carnell as girls' name)
Carnell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Carnell's strongest decade.
734 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 16% of all-time use.
Carnell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 5
1890s
5 births
- 1910s 107
1910s
107 births
- 1920s 248
1920s
248 births
- 1930s
1930s
295 births
- 1940s
1940s
421 births
- 1950s
1950s
734 births
- 1960s
1960s
573 births
- 1970s
1970s
588 births
- 1980s
1980s
511 births
- 1990s
1990s
400 births
- 2000s
2000s
396 births
- 2010s 278
2010s
278 births
- 2020s 62
2020s
62 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 734 births (16% of all-time use).
How Carnell 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 Carnell's total volume
Carnell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Carnell by state
Where Carnell concentrates geographically, total births since 1897
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | North Carolina | | 208 | 4.5% |
| #2 | Illinois | | 205 | 4.4% |
| #3 | South Carolina | | 185 | 4.0% |
| #4 | California | | 110 | 2.4% |
| #5 | Louisiana | | 88 | 1.9% |
| #6 | Georgia | | 77 | 1.7% |
| #7 | Mississippi | | 62 | 1.3% |
| #8 | Florida | | 59 | 1.3% |
North Carolina share of Carnell's total US births 4.5%
Even split
208 of 4,618 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 22 reporting states.
Carnell appears in 22 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Carnell? ▼
4,618 babies have been named Carnell since 1897. It currently ranks #10983 among boys. The peak year was 1958 with 92 births.
When was Carnell most popular? ▼
Carnell was most popular in the 1950s decade with 734 total births. The single peak year was 1958.
Where is Carnell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Carnell are North Carolina (208 births), Illinois (205 births), South Carolina (185 births).
Is Carnell a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Carnell is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 4,618 births, and as a girl's name it has 546 births.
How long has the name Carnell been used? ▼
Records for Carnell go back to 1897, giving 129 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Carnell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Carl, Carlos, Carter, Carson, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Carnell's data
- Carnell's decade-level peak was the 1950s (734 total births); usage has since declined to 62 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- North Carolina records the most Carnells (208 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. North Carolina 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 Carnell
Nearby Names Like Carnell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Carnell
Carl Boy
#1031 504,827 births
Carlos Boy
#135 307,036 births
Carter Boy
#46 206,833 births
Carson Boy
#124 132,774 births
Carlton Boy
#2791 48,890 births
Compare Carnell side by side: Carnell vs Carl Carnell vs Carlos Carnell vs Carter
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Carnell
Ezell #10982
3,243 births · Peak 1951
Vinson #10984
3,841 births · Peak 1969
Garvin #10981
2,424 births · Peak 1921
Evelyn #10985
1,906 births · Peak 1930
Reynold #10980
4,672 births · Peak 1922
Librado #10986
1,303 births · Peak 1946
Narciso #10979
2,078 births · Peak 1990
Luz #10987
931 births · Peak 1926
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, 1897–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Carnell: #10983 Unisex Name - 4,618 Births, Peak 1958." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/carnell. 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 Carnell 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.