Total births
4,355
Unisex name · since 1902
Farrell
Farrell has 4,355 recorded births since 1902 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1935 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #12404
- among boys today
- 4,355
- born since 1902
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 13%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Farrell is the #12404 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 4,355 recorded since 1902.
Farrell has 4,355 recorded births among boys since 1902, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #12404 as of the latest data, more common than 13% of boys, busiest in the 1930s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1902 to 2024.
- #12404 among boys today
- 4,355 born since 1902
- 1930s peak decade
- 13% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Farrell is currently the #12404 unisex name in America, more common than 13% of boys - 4,355 born since 1902, peaking in the 1930s.
- #12404
- among boys today
- 4,355
- born since 1902
- 1930s
- peak decade
- 13%
- more common than other boys
Farrell vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#12404
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 13% of names given to boys today.
1930s
Peak decade
18% of everyone ever named Farrell was born in this single decade.
1935
Single peak year
96 babies were named Farrell in 1935 - its busiest year on record.
How Farrell compares
4,355 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
Farrell's all-time total is 12x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Farrell | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 4,355 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 96 | 23 | 22,252 |
Farrell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Farrell's full recorded timeline at 1966, 28% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 72% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1903, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1935 peak of 96 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Farrell at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1935
Current rank
#12,404
Active since
1902
Farrell popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1902–2024
- Peak year (1935)
- 96
- Annual births at peak, across 123 years of records
Farrell popularity over time - girls
472 total births recorded since 1915 (Farrell as girls' name)
Farrell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1930s was Farrell's strongest decade.
771 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 18% of all-time use.
Farrell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 28
1900s
28 births
- 1910s 238
1910s
238 births
- 1920s
1920s
465 births
- 1930s
1930s
771 births
- 1940s
1940s
595 births
- 1950s
1950s
708 births
- 1960s
1960s
529 births
- 1970s
1970s
359 births
- 1980s 214
1980s
214 births
- 1990s 138
1990s
138 births
- 2000s 173
2000s
173 births
- 2010s 104
2010s
104 births
- 2020s 33
2020s
33 births
What this shows Peak: 1930s at 771 births (18% of all-time use).
How Farrell 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 Farrell's total volume
Farrell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Farrell by state
Where Farrell concentrates geographically, total births since 1902
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Louisiana | | 171 | 3.9% |
| #2 | Utah | | 100 | 2.3% |
| #3 | Missouri | | 97 | 2.2% |
| #4 | California | | 86 | 2.0% |
| #5 | Arkansas | | 69 | 1.6% |
| #6 | Georgia | | 61 | 1.4% |
| #7 | Texas | | 55 | 1.3% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 54 | 1.2% |
Louisiana share of Farrell's total US births 3.9%
Even split
171 of 4,355 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 20 reporting states.
Farrell appears in 20 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Farrell? ▼
Farrell has been given to 4,355 babies in the U.S. since 1902, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #12404 as of the latest data. 96 babies were born in 1935, its single highest year.
When was Farrell most popular? ▼
Farrell was most popular in the 1930s decade with 771 total births. The single peak year was 1935.
Where is Farrell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Farrell are Louisiana (171 births), Utah (100 births), Missouri (97 births).
Is Farrell a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Farrell is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 4,355 births, and as a girl's name it has 472 births.
How long has the name Farrell been used? ▼
Records for Farrell go back to 1902, giving 123 years of history through 2024.
What names are similar to Farrell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Faris, Farris, Faron, Farhan, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Farrell's data
- Farrell's decade-level peak was the 1930s (771 total births); usage has since declined to 33 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Louisiana records the most Farrells (171 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Louisiana 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 Farrell
Nearby Names Like Farrell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Farrell
Faris Boy
#1440 3,225 births
Farris Boy
#7282 2,991 births
Faron Boy
#7334 2,420 births
Farhan Boy
#2145 1,824 births
Farid Boy
#3300 1,120 births
Compare Farrell side by side: Farrell vs Faris Farrell vs Farris Farrell vs Faron
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Farrell
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, 1902–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Farrell: #12404 Unisex Name - 4,355 Births, Peak 1935." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/farrell. 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 Farrell 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.