Total births
1,157
Boys' name · since 1888
Orvel
Since 1888, U.S. Social Security records show 1,157 babies named Orvel, peaking in 1919. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,157
- total births
- 1888–1972
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
Orvel is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 1,157 have been recorded since 1888.
Orvel has 1,157 recorded births among boys since 1888, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1888 to 1972.
- 1,157 total births
- 1888–1972 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 30% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,157 boys have been named Orvel since 1888, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1972.
- 1,157
- total births
- 1888–1972
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 30%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
30% of everyone ever named Orvel was born in this single decade.
1919
Single peak year
56 babies were named Orvel in 1919 - its busiest year on record.
Orvel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Orvel's full recorded timeline at 1934, 34% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 66% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1894, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1919 peak of 56 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Orvel at a glance
Last recorded 1972Peak year
1919
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1888
Orvel popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1888–1972
- Peak year (1919)
- 56
- Annual births at peak, across 85 years of records
Orvel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Orvel's strongest decade.
346 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 30% of all-time use.
Orvel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 9
1880s
9 births
- 1890s 10
1890s
10 births
- 1900s 31
1900s
31 births
- 1910s
1910s
271 births
- 1920s
1920s
346 births
- 1930s
1930s
228 births
- 1940s
1940s
143 births
- 1950s 77
1950s
77 births
- 1960s 34
1960s
34 births
- 1970s 8
1970s
8 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 346 births (30% of all-time use).
How Orvel 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 Orvel's total volume
Orvel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Orvel by state
Where Orvel concentrates geographically, total births since 1888
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Oklahoma | | 77 | 6.7% |
| #2 | Missouri | | 32 | 2.8% |
| #3 | Texas | | 20 | 1.7% |
| #4 | Arkansas | | 13 | 1.1% |
| #5 | Kentucky | | 11 | 1.0% |
| #6 | Alabama | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #7 | Illinois | | 5 | 0.4% |
Oklahoma share of Orvel's total US births 6.7%
Even split
77 of 1,157 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Orvel? ▼
Orvel has been given to 1,157 babies in the U.S. since 1888, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1972. 56 babies were born in 1919, its single highest year.
When was Orvel most popular? ▼
Orvel was most popular in the 1920s decade with 346 total births. The single peak year was 1919.
Where is Orvel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Orvel are Oklahoma (77 births), Missouri (32 births), Texas (20 births).
How long has the name Orvel been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Orvel since 1888 -- 85 years through the most recent 1972 data.
What names are similar to Orvel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Orville, Orval, Orvil, Orvin, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Orvel's data
- Orvel's decade-level peak was the 1920s (346 total births); usage has since declined to 8 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Oklahoma records the most Orvels (77 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Oklahoma 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 Orvel
Nearby Names Like Orvel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Orvel
Orville Boy
#6832 35,065 births
Orval Boy
7,916 births
Orvil Boy
1,935 births
Orvin Boy
#12389 1,140 births
Orvis Boy
940 births
Compare Orvel side by side: Orvel vs Orville Orvel vs Orval Orvel vs Orvil
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1888–1972 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Orvel: Baby Name Since 1888 - 1,157 Births, Peak 1919." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/orvel. 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 Orvel 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.