Total births
458
Unisex name · since 1979
Rael
Rael has 458 recorded births since 1979 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2024 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #2332
- among boys today
- 458
- born since 1979
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 84%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Rael is the #2332 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 458 recorded since 1979.
Rael has 458 recorded births among boys since 1979, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #2332 as of the latest data, more common than 84% of boys, busiest in the 2020s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1979 to 2025.
- #2332 among boys today
- 458 born since 1979
- 2020s peak decade
- 84% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Rael is currently the #2332 unisex name in America, more common than 84% of boys - 458 born since 1979, peaking in the 2020s.
- #2332
- among boys today
- 458
- born since 1979
- 2020s
- peak decade
- 84%
- more common than other boys
Rael vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2332
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 84% of names given to boys today.
2020s
Peak decade
50% of everyone ever named Rael was born in this single decade.
2024
Single peak year
61 babies were named Rael in 2024 - its busiest year on record.
How Rael compares
458 Top 45% higher than 55% 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
Rael's all-time total is 25% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Rael | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 458 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 61 | 23 | 22,252 |
Rael's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Rael's SSA record in two at 2010 and the more recent half accounts for 75% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 25%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1991, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2024 peak of 61, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Rael at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2024
Current rank
#2,332
Active since
1979
Rael popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1979–2025
- Peak year (2024)
- 61
- Annual births at peak, across 47 years of records
Rael popularity over time - girls
202 total births recorded since 1971 (Rael as girls' name)
Rael by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2020s was Rael's strongest decade.
230 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 50% of all-time use.
Rael births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 8
1970s
8 births
- 1980s 13
1980s
13 births
- 1990s 23
1990s
23 births
- 2000s 70
2000s
70 births
- 2010s
2010s
114 births
- 2020s
2020s
230 births
What this shows Peak: 2020s at 230 births (50% of all-time use).
Rael by state
Where Rael concentrates geographically, total births since 1979
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 40 | 8.7% |
| #2 | California | | 19 | 4.1% |
| #3 | Florida | | 15 | 3.3% |
| #4 | New York | | 14 | 3.1% |
| #5 | Georgia | | 6 | 1.3% |
| #6 | Massachusetts | | 5 | 1.1% |
| #7 | New Jersey | | 5 | 1.1% |
Texas share of Rael's total US births 8.7%
Even split
40 of 458 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rael? ▼
Since 1979, Social Security records show 458 babies named Rael. Today it holds rank #2332 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2024, with 61 births.
When was Rael most popular? ▼
Rael was most popular in the 2020s decade with 230 total births. The single peak year was 2024.
Where is Rael most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Rael are Texas (40 births), California (19 births), Florida (15 births).
Is Rael a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Rael is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 458 births, and as a girl's name it has 202 births.
How long has the name Rael been used? ▼
Records for Rael go back to 1979, giving 47 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Rael? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Raekwon, Rae, Raeford, Raequan, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Rael's data
- Texas records the most Raels (40 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Rael
Nearby Names Like Rael
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rael
Raekwon Boy
#6341 2,289 births
Rae Boy
#7280 960 births
Raeford Boy
613 births
Raequan Boy
#12976 516 births
Raed Boy
#5988 477 births
Compare Rael side by side: Rael vs Raekwon Rael vs Rae Rael vs Raeford
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Rael
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, 1979–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rael: #2332 Unisex Name - 458 Births, Peak 2024." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rael. 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 Rael 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.