Total births
52
Unisex name · since 1973
Pele
Since 1973, U.S. Social Security records show 52 babies named Pele, peaking in 2011. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 52
- total births
- 1973–2019
- years on record
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 52%
- born in that decade
Pele sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 52 recorded since 1973.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Pele has been recorded 52 times among girls since 1973, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1973 to 2019.
- 52 total births
- 1973–2019 years on record
- 2010s peak decade
- 52% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
52 girls have been named Pele since 1973, peaking in the 2010s, last recorded in 2019.
- 52
- total births
- 1973–2019
- years on record
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 52%
- born in that decade
2010s
Peak decade
52% of everyone ever named Pele was born in this single decade.
2011
Single peak year
8 babies were named Pele in 2011 - its busiest year on record.
Pele's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Pele's SSA record in two at 2011 and the more recent half accounts for 52% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 48%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1973, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2011 peak of 8, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Pele at a glance
Last recorded 2019Peak year
2011
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1973
Pele popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1973–2019
- Peak year (2011)
- 8
- Annual births at peak, across 47 years of records
Pele popularity over time - boys
51 total births recorded since 1975 (Pele as boys' name)
Pele by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Pele's strongest decade.
27 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 52% of all-time use.
Pele births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
- 2000s
2000s
20 births
- 2010s
2010s
27 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 27 births (52% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Pele? ▼
Pele has been given to 52 babies in the U.S. since 1973, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2019. 8 babies were born in 2011, its single highest year.
When was Pele most popular? ▼
Pele was most popular in the 2010s decade with 27 total births. The single peak year was 2011.
Is Pele a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Pele is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 52 births, and as a boy's name it has 51 births.
How long has the name Pele been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Pele since 1973 -- 47 years through the most recent 2019 data.
What names are similar to Pele? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Pelagia, Pella, Pelin, Pelia, and 3 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
Keep exploring Pele
Nearby Names Like Pele
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Pele
Pelagia Girl
91 births
Pella Girl
#14640 66 births
Pelin Girl
54 births
Pelia Girl
#17019 49 births
Pelma Girl
20 births
Compare Pele side by side: Pele vs Pelagia Pele vs Pella Pele vs Pelin
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1973–2019 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Pele: Baby Name Since 1973 - 52 Births, Peak 2011." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/pele. 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 Pele 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.