Total births
1,006
Boys' name · since 1982
Ethaniel
Since 1982, U.S. Social Security records show 1,006 babies named Ethaniel, peaking in 2009. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #4487
- among boys today
- 1,006
- born since 1982
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 69%
- more common than other boys
1,006 babies have been named Ethaniel since 1982, making it today's #4487 boys' name.
Social Security Administration records show Ethaniel recorded 1,006 times among boys since 1982, holding rank #4487 nationally today, ahead of 69% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1982 to 2025.
- #4487 among boys today
- 1,006 born since 1982
- 2010s peak decade
- 69% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Ethaniel is currently the #4487 boys' name in America, more common than 69% of boys - 1,006 born since 1982, peaking in the 2010s.
- #4487
- among boys today
- 1,006
- born since 1982
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 69%
- more common than other boys
Ethaniel vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#4487
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 69% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
42% of everyone ever named Ethaniel was born in this single decade.
2009
Single peak year
61 babies were named Ethaniel in 2009 - its busiest year on record.
How Ethaniel compares
1,006 Top 31% higher than 69% 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
Ethaniel's all-time total is 174% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Ethaniel | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,006 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 61 | 23 | 22,252 |
Ethaniel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Ethaniel's full recorded timeline at 2009, 60% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 40% in the earlier half -- usage has skewed toward the present, not a one-decade spike. Its quietest year on record was 1982, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 2009 peak of 61 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Ethaniel at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2009
Current rank
#4,487
Active since
1982
Ethaniel popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1982–2025
- Peak year (2009)
- 61
- Annual births at peak, across 44 years of records
Ethaniel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Ethaniel's strongest decade.
421 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 42% of all-time use.
Ethaniel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 10
1980s
10 births
- 1990s 48
1990s
48 births
- 2000s
2000s
403 births
- 2010s
2010s
421 births
- 2020s 124
2020s
124 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 421 births (42% of all-time use).
How Ethaniel 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 Ethaniel's total volume
Ethaniel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Ethaniel by state
Where Ethaniel concentrates geographically, total births since 1982
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 117 | 11.6% |
| #2 | Texas | | 104 | 10.3% |
| #3 | Arizona | | 16 | 1.6% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 14 | 1.4% |
| #5 | Florida | | 6 | 0.6% |
| #6 | New York | | 6 | 0.6% |
| #7 | Washington | | 5 | 0.5% |
California share of Ethaniel's total US births 11.6%
Even split
117 of 1,006 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ethaniel? ▼
1,006 babies have been named Ethaniel since 1982. It currently ranks #4487 among boys. The peak year was 2009 with 61 births.
When was Ethaniel most popular? ▼
Ethaniel was most popular in the 2010s decade with 421 total births. The single peak year was 2009.
Where is Ethaniel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Ethaniel are California (117 births), Texas (104 births), Arizona (16 births).
How long has the name Ethaniel been used? ▼
Records for Ethaniel go back to 1982, giving 44 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Ethaniel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Ethan, Ethen, Ethyn, Ethel, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Ethaniel's data
- Ethaniel's decade-level peak was the 2010s (421 total births); usage has since declined to 124 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Ethaniels (117 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Ethaniel
Nearby Names Like Ethaniel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ethaniel
Ethan Boy
#19 487,389 births
Ethen Boy
#4091 3,858 births
Ethyn Boy
1,541 births
Ethel Boy
1,490 births
Ethin Boy
300 births
Compare Ethaniel side by side: Ethaniel vs Ethan Ethaniel vs Ethen Ethaniel vs Ethyn
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Ethaniel
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, 1982–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ethaniel: #4487 Boys' Name - 1,006 Births, Peak 2009." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ethaniel. 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 Ethaniel 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.