Total births
4,717
Boys' name · since 1962
Markell
Markell has 4,717 recorded births since 1962 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2005 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #2485
- among boys today
- 4,717
- born since 1962
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 83%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Markell is the #2485 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 4,717 recorded since 1962.
Social Security Administration records show Markell recorded 4,717 times among boys since 1962, holding rank #2485 nationally today, ahead of 83% of boys, peaking in the 2000s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1962 to 2025.
- #2485 among boys today
- 4,717 born since 1962
- 2000s peak decade
- 83% more common than other boys
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
Markell is currently the #2485 boys' name in America, more common than 83% of boys - 4,717 born since 1962, peaking in the 2000s.
- #2485
- among boys today
- 4,717
- born since 1962
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 83%
- more common than other boys
Markell vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2485
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 83% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
32% of everyone ever named Markell was born in this single decade.
2005
Single peak year
176 babies were named Markell in 2005 - its busiest year on record.
How Markell compares
4,717 Top 12% higher than 88% 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
Markell's all-time total is 13x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Markell | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 4,717 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 176 | 23 | 22,252 |
Markell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Markell splits its recorded history at 1996: 74% of all births land in the more recent half, 26% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1967 (6 births) -- compare that against the 2005 peak of 176 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Markell at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2005
Current rank
#2,485
Active since
1962
Markell popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1962–2025
- Peak year (2005)
- 176
- Annual births at peak, across 64 years of records
Markell popularity over time - girls
219 total births recorded since 1970 (Markell as girls' name)
Markell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Markell's strongest decade.
1,486 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 32% of all-time use.
Markell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 29
1960s
29 births
- 1970s 182
1970s
182 births
- 1980s 364
1980s
364 births
- 1990s
1990s
1,230 births
- 2000s
2000s
1,486 births
- 2010s
2010s
1,043 births
- 2020s 383
2020s
383 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 1,486 births (32% of all-time use).
How Markell 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 Markell's total volume
Markell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Markell by state
Where Markell concentrates geographically, total births since 1962
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 263 | 5.6% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 255 | 5.4% |
| #3 | Texas | | 253 | 5.4% |
| #4 | Florida | | 246 | 5.2% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 201 | 4.3% |
| #6 | New York | | 179 | 3.8% |
| #7 | Ohio | | 127 | 2.7% |
| #8 | Michigan | | 125 | 2.6% |
California share of Markell's total US births 5.6%
Even split
263 of 4,717 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 24 reporting states.
Markell appears in 24 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Markell? ▼
4,717 babies have been named Markell since 1962. It currently ranks #2485 among boys. The peak year was 2005 with 176 births.
When was Markell most popular? ▼
Markell was most popular in the 2000s decade with 1,486 total births. The single peak year was 2005.
Where is Markell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Markell are California (263 births), Georgia (255 births), Texas (253 births).
How long has the name Markell been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Markell since 1962 -- 64 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Markell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Mark, Martin, Marvin, Marcus, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Markell's data
- Markell's decade-level peak was the 2000s (1,486 total births); usage has since declined to 383 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Markells (263 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 Markell
Nearby Names Like Markell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Markell
Mark Boy
#244 1,362,176 births
Martin Boy
#307 315,561 births
Marvin Boy
#671 254,192 births
Marcus Boy
#256 241,657 births
Mario Boy
#398 151,310 births
Compare Markell side by side: Markell vs Mark Markell vs Martin Markell vs Marvin
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Markell
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, 1962–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Markell: #2485 Boys' Name - 4,717 Births, Peak 2005." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/markell. 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 Markell 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.