Total births
172
Boys' name · since 1984
Mandela
172 babies named Mandela in U.S. Social Security records since 1984, with the highest year being 1990. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 172
- total births
- 1984–2022
- years on record
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 36%
- born in that decade
Mandela sits outside today's top ranks for boys, with 172 recorded since 1984.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Mandela has been recorded 172 times among boys since 1984, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1984 to 2022.
- 172 total births
- 1984–2022 years on record
- 2010s peak decade
- 36% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
172 boys have been named Mandela since 1984, peaking in the 2010s, last recorded in 2022.
- 172
- total births
- 1984–2022
- years on record
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 36%
- born in that decade
2010s
Peak decade
36% of everyone ever named Mandela was born in this single decade.
1990
Single peak year
36 babies were named Mandela in 1990 - its busiest year on record.
Mandela's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Mandela splits its recorded history at 2007: 45% of all births land in the more recent half, 55% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1984 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1990 peak of 36 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Mandela at a glance
Last recorded 2022Peak year
1990
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1984
Mandela popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1984–2022
- Peak year (1990)
- 36
- Annual births at peak, across 39 years of records
Mandela by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Mandela's strongest decade.
62 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 36% of all-time use.
Mandela births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s
1980s
29 births
- 1990s
1990s
59 births
- 2000s 12
2000s
12 births
- 2010s
2010s
62 births
- 2020s 10
2020s
10 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 62 births (36% of all-time use).
Mandela by state
Where Mandela concentrates geographically, total births since 1984
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 2.9% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 5 | 2.9% |
California share of Mandela's total US births 2.9%
Even split
5 of 172 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Mandela? ▼
Since 1984, Social Security records show 172 babies named Mandela. The most recent recorded year was 2022. Its busiest year on record was 1990, with 36 births.
When was Mandela most popular? ▼
Mandela was most popular in the 2010s decade with 62 total births. The single peak year was 1990.
Where is Mandela most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Mandela are California (5 births), Georgia (5 births).
How long has the name Mandela been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Mandela since 1984 -- 39 years through the most recent 2022 data.
What names are similar to Mandela? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Manuel, Manny, Manley, Manning, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Mandela's data
- Mandela's decade-level peak was the 2010s (62 total births); usage has since declined to 10 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Mandelas (5 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 Mandela
Nearby Names Like Mandela
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Mandela
Manuel Boy
#351 191,584 births
Manny Boy
#2679 4,087 births
Manley Boy
2,251 births
Manning Boy
#4711 1,840 births
Manolo Boy
#1987 1,524 births
Compare Mandela side by side: Mandela vs Manuel Mandela vs Manny Mandela vs Manley
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1984–2022 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Mandela: Baby Name Since 1984 - 172 Births, Peak 1990." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/mandela. 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 Mandela 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 July 2026.