Total births
562
Unisex name · since 1883
Orel
Orel has 562 recorded births since 1883 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1916 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #12380
- among boys today
- 562
- born since 1883
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 13%
- more common than other boys
562 babies have been named Orel since 1883, making it today's #12380 unisex name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Orel has been recorded 562 times among boys since 1883, currently ranked #12380 nationally and more common than 13% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 1910s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1883 to 2025.
- #12380 among boys today
- 562 born since 1883
- 1910s peak decade
- 13% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Orel is currently the #12380 unisex name in America, more common than 13% of boys - 562 born since 1883, peaking in the 1910s.
- #12380
- among boys today
- 562
- born since 1883
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 13%
- more common than other boys
Orel vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#12380
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 13% of names given to boys today.
1910s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Orel was born in this single decade.
1916
Single peak year
27 babies were named Orel in 1916 - its busiest year on record.
How Orel compares
562 Top 41% higher than 59% 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
Orel's all-time total is 53% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Orel | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 562 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 27 | 23 | 22,252 |
Orel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Orel's SSA record in two at 1942 and the more recent half accounts for 41% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 59%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1883, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1916 peak of 27, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Orel at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1916
Current rank
#12,380
Active since
1883
Orel popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1883–2025
- Peak year (1916)
- 27
- Annual births at peak, across 143 years of records
Orel popularity over time - girls
136 total births recorded since 1915 (Orel as girls' name)
Orel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1910s was Orel's strongest decade.
122 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Orel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1890s 5
1890s
5 births
- 1900s 12
1900s
12 births
- 1910s
1910s
122 births
- 1920s
1920s
105 births
- 1930s
1930s
72 births
- 1940s 29
1940s
29 births
- 1950s 5
1950s
5 births
- 1970s 7
1970s
7 births
- 1980s 21
1980s
21 births
- 1990s
1990s
54 births
- 2000s
2000s
70 births
- 2010s 31
2010s
31 births
- 2020s 24
2020s
24 births
What this shows Peak: 1910s at 122 births (22% of all-time use).
How Orel 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 Orel's total volume
Orel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Orel by state
Where Orel concentrates geographically, total births since 1883
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 12 | 2.1% |
| #2 | Kentucky | | 5 | 0.9% |
| #3 | New York | | 5 | 0.9% |
California share of Orel's total US births 2.1%
Even split
12 of 562 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Orel? ▼
562 babies have been named Orel since 1883. It currently ranks #12380 among boys. The peak year was 1916 with 27 births.
When was Orel most popular? ▼
Orel was most popular in the 1910s decade with 122 total births. The single peak year was 1916.
Where is Orel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Orel are California (12 births), Kentucky (5 births), New York (5 births).
Is Orel a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Orel is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 562 births, and as a girl's name it has 136 births.
How long has the name Orel been used? ▼
Records for Orel go back to 1883, giving 143 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Orel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Oren, Oreste, Orestes, Orest, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Orel's data
- Orel's decade-level peak was the 1910s (122 total births); usage has since declined to 24 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Orels (12 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 Orel
Nearby Names Like Orel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Orel
Oren Boy
#1383 9,502 births
Oreste Boy
357 births
Orestes Boy
343 births
Orest Boy
#9080 310 births
Orenthal Boy
277 births
Compare Orel side by side: Orel vs Oren Orel vs Oreste Orel vs Orestes
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Orel
Jep #12379
212 births · Peak 2014
Lauren #12381
5,818 births · Peak 1989
Ceasar #12378
3,510 births · Peak 2006
Lark #12382
272 births · Peak 1922
Ellie #12377
1,180 births · Peak 1915
Ferman #12383
1,383 births · Peak 1921
Camille #12376
1,398 births · Peak 1915
Ruffin #12384
560 births · Peak 1916
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, 1883–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Orel: #12380 Unisex Name - 562 Births, Peak 1916." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/orel. 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 Orel 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.