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.
- #4,693 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,157
- born since 1888
- 1920s
- peak 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.
- #4,693 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 1,157 born since 1888
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Orvel ranks #4,693 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,157 born since 1888, peaking in the 1920s.
- #4,693 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,157
- born since 1888
- 1920s
- peak decade
Orvel's 1,157 recorded births place it above 89.68% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
7 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by Oklahoma.
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 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
1920s is the heaviest window (346 births, 30% of the file).
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 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% |
77 of 1,157 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Orvel? ▼
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When was Orvel most popular? ▼
Where is Orvel most popular? ▼
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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
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
Compare Orvel side by side: Orvel vs Orville Orvel vs Orval Orvel vs Orvil
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Orvel: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1919)
Similar record span (~84 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.