Total births
2,374
Unisex name · since 1893
Estel
Since 1893, U.S. Social Security records show 2,374 babies named Estel, peaking in 1921. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 2,374
- total births
- 1893–1981
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
2,374 boys have been named Estel since 1893, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Estel recorded 2,374 times among boys since 1893, 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 1893 to 1981.
- 2,374 total births
- 1893–1981 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 29% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
2,374 boys have been named Estel since 1893, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1981.
- 2,374
- total births
- 1893–1981
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Estel was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
87 babies were named Estel in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
Estel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Estel's full recorded timeline at 1937, 32% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 68% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1969, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1921 peak of 87 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Estel at a glance
Last recorded 1981Peak year
1921
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1893
Estel popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1893–1981
- Peak year (1921)
- 87
- Annual births at peak, across 89 years of records
Estel popularity over time - girls
467 total births recorded since 1898 (Estel as girls' name)
Estel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Estel's strongest decade.
690 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Estel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 36
1890s
36 births
- 1900s 97
1900s
97 births
- 1910s
1910s
457 births
- 1920s
1920s
690 births
- 1930s
1930s
440 births
- 1940s
1940s
310 births
- 1950s 182
1950s
182 births
- 1960s 106
1960s
106 births
- 1970s 45
1970s
45 births
- 1980s 11
1980s
11 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 690 births (29% of all-time use).
How Estel 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 Estel's total volume
Estel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Estel by state
Where Estel concentrates geographically, total births since 1893
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kentucky | | 276 | 11.6% |
| #2 | Tennessee | | 182 | 7.7% |
| #3 | West Virginia | | 127 | 5.3% |
| #4 | Indiana | | 121 | 5.1% |
| #5 | Missouri | | 112 | 4.7% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 99 | 4.2% |
| #7 | Illinois | | 37 | 1.6% |
| #8 | Virginia | | 30 | 1.3% |
Kentucky share of Estel's total US births 11.6%
Even split
276 of 2,374 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 13 reporting states.
Estel appears in 13 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Estel? ▼
Estel has been given to 2,374 babies in the U.S. since 1893, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1981. 87 babies were born in 1921, its single highest year.
When was Estel most popular? ▼
Estel was most popular in the 1920s decade with 690 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Estel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Estel are Kentucky (276 births), Tennessee (182 births), West Virginia (127 births).
Is Estel a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Estel is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 2,374 births, and as a girl's name it has 467 births.
How long has the name Estel been used? ▼
Records for Estel go back to 1893, giving 89 years of history through 1981.
What names are similar to Estel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Esteban, Estevan, Eston, Estill, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Estel's data
- Estel's decade-level peak was the 1920s (690 total births); usage has since declined to 11 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Kentucky records the most Estels (276 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 Estel
Nearby Names Like Estel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Estel
Esteban Boy
#459 35,592 births
Estevan Boy
#2214 8,956 births
Eston Boy
#6844 2,006 births
Estill Boy
1,246 births
Esther Boy
972 births
Compare Estel side by side: Estel vs Esteban Estel vs Estevan Estel vs Eston
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, 1893–1981 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Estel: Baby Name Since 1893 - 2,374 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/estel. 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 Estel 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.