Total births
1,544
Boys' name · since 1971
Pavel
Since 1971, U.S. Social Security records show 1,544 babies named Pavel, peaking in 2008. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #3307
- among boys today
- 1,544
- born since 1971
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 77%
- more common than other boys
1,544 babies have been named Pavel since 1971, making it today's #3307 boys' name.
Pavel has 1,544 recorded births among boys since 1971, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #3307 as of the latest data, more common than 77% of boys, busiest in the 2000s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1971 to 2025.
- #3307 among boys today
- 1,544 born since 1971
- 2000s peak decade
- 77% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Pavel is currently the #3307 boys' name in America, more common than 77% of boys - 1,544 born since 1971, peaking in the 2000s.
- #3307
- among boys today
- 1,544
- born since 1971
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 77%
- more common than other boys
Pavel vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3307
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 77% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
39% of everyone ever named Pavel was born in this single decade.
2008
Single peak year
83 babies were named Pavel in 2008 - its busiest year on record.
How Pavel compares
1,544 Top 24% higher than 76% 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
Pavel's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Pavel | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,544 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 83 | 23 | 22,252 |
Pavel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Pavel's SSA record in two at 2002 and the more recent half accounts for 73% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 27%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1971, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2008 peak of 83, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Pavel at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2008
Current rank
#3,307
Active since
1971
Pavel popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1971–2025
- Peak year (2008)
- 83
- Annual births at peak, across 55 years of records
Pavel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Pavel's strongest decade.
599 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 39% of all-time use.
Pavel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 28
1970s
28 births
- 1980s 41
1980s
41 births
- 1990s
1990s
261 births
- 2000s
2000s
599 births
- 2010s
2010s
427 births
- 2020s 188
2020s
188 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 599 births (39% of all-time use).
How Pavel 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 Pavel's total volume
Pavel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Pavel by state
Where Pavel concentrates geographically, total births since 1971
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 241 | 15.6% |
| #2 | Washington | | 133 | 8.6% |
| #3 | New York | | 56 | 3.6% |
| #4 | Texas | | 50 | 3.2% |
| #5 | Florida | | 37 | 2.4% |
| #6 | Oregon | | 24 | 1.6% |
| #7 | Illinois | | 12 | 0.8% |
| #8 | Ohio | | 5 | 0.3% |
California share of Pavel's total US births 15.6%
Even split
241 of 1,544 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Pavel? ▼
Pavel has been given to 1,544 babies in the U.S. since 1971, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #3307 as of the latest data. 83 babies were born in 2008, its single highest year.
When was Pavel most popular? ▼
Pavel was most popular in the 2000s decade with 599 total births. The single peak year was 2008.
Where is Pavel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Pavel are California (241 births), Washington (133 births), New York (56 births).
How long has the name Pavel been used? ▼
Pavel has been recorded in Social Security data since 1971, spanning 55 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Pavel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Pavan, Pavle, Pavlos, Pavlo, and 3 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Pavel's data
- Pavel's decade-level peak was the 2000s (599 total births); usage has since declined to 188 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Pavels (241 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 Pavel
Nearby Names Like Pavel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Pavel
Pavan Boy
#10106 564 births
Pavle Boy
#11569 139 births
Pavlos Boy
132 births
Pavlo Boy
49 births
Pavly Boy
21 births
Compare Pavel side by side: Pavel vs Pavan Pavel vs Pavle Pavel vs Pavlos
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Pavel
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, 1971–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Pavel: #3307 Boys' Name - 1,544 Births, Peak 2008." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/pavel. 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 Pavel 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.