Total births
454
Boys' name · since 1915
Purcell
Purcell has 454 recorded births since 1915 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1948 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 454
- total births
- 1915–1985
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 20%
- born in that decade
Purcell is not among the current top-ranked boys names; 454 have been recorded since 1915.
Social Security Administration records show Purcell recorded 454 times among boys since 1915, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1915 to 1985.
- 454 total births
- 1915–1985 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 20% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
454 boys have been named Purcell since 1915, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1985.
- 454
- total births
- 1915–1985
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 20%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
20% of everyone ever named Purcell was born in this single decade.
1948
Single peak year
13 babies were named Purcell in 1948 - its busiest year on record.
Purcell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Purcell's full recorded timeline at 1949, 46% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 54% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1918, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1948 peak of 13 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Purcell at a glance
Last recorded 1985Peak year
1948
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1915
Purcell popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1915–1985
- Peak year (1948)
- 13
- Annual births at peak, across 71 years of records
Purcell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Purcell's strongest decade.
91 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Purcell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s
1910s
42 births
- 1920s
1920s
91 births
- 1930s
1930s
54 births
- 1940s
1940s
65 births
- 1950s
1950s
83 births
- 1960s
1960s
61 births
- 1970s 34
1970s
34 births
- 1980s 24
1980s
24 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 91 births (20% of all-time use).
Purcell by state
Where Purcell concentrates geographically, total births since 1915
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Virginia | | 12 | 2.6% |
| #2 | North Carolina | | 5 | 1.1% |
Virginia share of Purcell's total US births 2.6%
Even split
12 of 454 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Purcell? ▼
454 babies have been named Purcell since 1915. It was last recorded in 1985. The peak year was 1948 with 13 births.
When was Purcell most popular? ▼
Purcell was most popular in the 1920s decade with 91 total births. The single peak year was 1948.
Where is Purcell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Purcell are Virginia (12 births), North Carolina (5 births).
How long has the name Purcell been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Purcell since 1915 -- 71 years through the most recent 1985 data.
What names are similar to Purcell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Purvis, Purnell, Purl, Purpose, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Purcell's data
- Purcell's decade-level peak was the 1920s (91 total births); usage has since declined to 24 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Virginia records the most Purcells (12 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Virginia 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 Purcell
Nearby Names Like Purcell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Purcell
Purvis Boy
969 births
Purnell Boy
762 births
Purl Boy
81 births
Purpose Boy
#12051 68 births
Purav Boy
61 births
Compare Purcell side by side: Purcell vs Purvis Purcell vs Purnell Purcell vs Purl
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, 1915–1985 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Purcell: Baby Name Since 1915 - 454 Births, Peak 1948." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/purcell. 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 Purcell 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.