Total births
3,425
Girls' name · since 1880
Idell
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 3,425 babies named Idell, peaking in 1921. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 3,425
- total births
- 1880–1981
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 28%
- born in that decade
Idell is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 3,425 have been recorded since 1880.
Social Security Administration records show Idell recorded 3,425 times among girls since 1880, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls 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 1880 to 1981.
- 3,425 total births
- 1880–1981 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 28% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
3,425 girls have been named Idell since 1880, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1981.
- 3,425
- total births
- 1880–1981
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 28%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
28% of everyone ever named Idell was born in this single decade.
1921
Single peak year
125 babies were named Idell in 1921 - its busiest year on record.
Idell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Idell splits its recorded history at 1929: 33% of all births land in the more recent half, 67% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1968 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1921 peak of 125 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Idell at a glance
Last recorded 1981Peak year
1921
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1880
Idell popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–1981
- Peak year (1921)
- 125
- Annual births at peak, across 102 years of records
Idell popularity over time - boys
38 total births recorded since 1902 (Idell as boys' name)
Idell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Idell's strongest decade.
946 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 28% of all-time use.
Idell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 33
1880s
33 births
- 1890s 152
1890s
152 births
- 1900s 305
1900s
305 births
- 1910s
1910s
924 births
- 1920s
1920s
946 births
- 1930s
1930s
470 births
- 1940s 282
1940s
282 births
- 1950s 204
1950s
204 births
- 1960s 92
1960s
92 births
- 1970s 11
1970s
11 births
- 1980s 6
1980s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 946 births (28% of all-time use).
How Idell compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Idell's total volume
Idell vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Idell by state
Where Idell concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alabama | | 286 | 8.4% |
| #2 | Louisiana | | 256 | 7.5% |
| #3 | Mississippi | | 245 | 7.2% |
| #4 | Georgia | | 206 | 6.0% |
| #5 | South Carolina | | 163 | 4.8% |
| #6 | North Carolina | | 147 | 4.3% |
| #7 | Texas | | 141 | 4.1% |
| #8 | Arkansas | | 100 | 2.9% |
Alabama share of Idell's total US births 8.4%
Even split
286 of 3,425 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 16 reporting states.
Idell appears in 16 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Idell? ▼
Idell has been given to 3,425 babies in the U.S. since 1880, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1981. 125 babies were born in 1921, its single highest year.
When was Idell most popular? ▼
Idell was most popular in the 1920s decade with 946 total births. The single peak year was 1921.
Where is Idell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Idell are Alabama (286 births), Louisiana (256 births), Mississippi (245 births).
How long has the name Idell been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Idell since 1880 -- 102 years through the most recent 1981 data.
What names are similar to Idell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Idella, Idelle, Idelia, Idellar, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Idell's data
- Idell's decade-level peak was the 1920s (946 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Alabama records the most Idells (286 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Alabama 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 Idell
Nearby Names Like Idell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Idell
Idella Girl
#15295 6,554 births
Idelle Girl
750 births
Idelia Girl
126 births
Idellar Girl
30 births
Idessa Girl
30 births
Compare Idell side by side: Idell vs Idella Idell vs Idelle Idell vs Idelia
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Brynley #1268
3,425 births · Peak 2017
Larae #6426
3,426 births · Peak 1975
Odalys #3590
3,424 births · Peak 1996
Milania #1976
3,424 births · Peak 2014
Blossom #1943
3,422 births · Peak 2025
Gianni #1230
3,429 births · Peak 2021
Angeles #3409
3,421 births · Peak 2003
Marcelina #2751
3,419 births · Peak 2024
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, 1880–1981 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Idell: Baby Name Since 1880 - 3,425 Births, Peak 1921." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/idell. 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 Idell 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.