Total births
3,332
Boys' name · since 1966
Rahul
Since 1966, U.S. Social Security records show 3,332 babies named Rahul, peaking in 2000. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #11156
- among boys today
- 3,332
- born since 1966
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 22%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Rahul is the #11156 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 3,332 recorded since 1966.
Rahul has 3,332 recorded births among boys since 1966, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #11156 as of the latest data, more common than 22% 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 1966 to 2025.
- #11156 among boys today
- 3,332 born since 1966
- 2000s peak decade
- 22% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Rahul is currently the #11156 boys' name in America, more common than 22% of boys - 3,332 born since 1966, peaking in the 2000s.
- #11156
- among boys today
- 3,332
- born since 1966
- 2000s
- peak decade
- 22%
- more common than other boys
Rahul vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#11156
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 22% of names given to boys today.
2000s
Peak decade
41% of everyone ever named Rahul was born in this single decade.
2000
Single peak year
196 babies were named Rahul in 2000 - its busiest year on record.
How Rahul compares
3,332 Top 16% higher than 84% 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
Rahul's all-time total is 9x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Rahul | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,332 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 196 | 23 | 22,252 |
Rahul's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Rahul's SSA record in two at 1997 and the more recent half accounts for 63% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 37%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1966, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2000 peak of 196, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Rahul at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2000
Current rank
#11,156
Active since
1966
Rahul popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1966–2025
- Peak year (2000)
- 196
- Annual births at peak, across 60 years of records
Rahul by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2000s was Rahul's strongest decade.
1,355 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 41% of all-time use.
Rahul births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 13
1960s
13 births
- 1970s 236
1970s
236 births
- 1980s 442
1980s
442 births
- 1990s
1990s
977 births
- 2000s
2000s
1,355 births
- 2010s 258
2010s
258 births
- 2020s 51
2020s
51 births
What this shows Peak: 2000s at 1,355 births (41% of all-time use).
How Rahul 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 Rahul's total volume
Rahul vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Rahul by state
Where Rahul concentrates geographically, total births since 1966
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 597 | 17.9% |
| #2 | New Jersey | | 354 | 10.6% |
| #3 | New York | | 332 | 10.0% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 179 | 5.4% |
| #5 | Texas | | 136 | 4.1% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 89 | 2.7% |
| #7 | Massachusetts | | 62 | 1.9% |
| #8 | Virginia | | 46 | 1.4% |
California share of Rahul's total US births 17.9%
Even split
597 of 3,332 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 17 reporting states.
Rahul appears in 17 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rahul? ▼
Rahul has been given to 3,332 babies in the U.S. since 1966, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #11156 as of the latest data. 196 babies were born in 2000, its single highest year.
When was Rahul most popular? ▼
Rahul was most popular in the 2000s decade with 1,355 total births. The single peak year was 2000.
Where is Rahul most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Rahul are California (597 births), New Jersey (354 births), New York (332 births).
How long has the name Rahul been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Rahul since 1966 -- 60 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Rahul? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Raheem, Rahim, Rahsaan, Rahman, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Rahul's data
- Rahul's decade-level peak was the 2000s (1,355 total births); usage has since declined to 51 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Rahuls (597 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 Rahul
Nearby Names Like Rahul
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rahul
Raheem Boy
#1367 8,524 births
Rahim Boy
#2976 1,905 births
Rahsaan Boy
#11176 1,614 births
Rahman Boy
#4931 1,286 births
Raheim Boy
#11189 880 births
Compare Rahul side by side: Rahul vs Raheem Rahul vs Rahim Rahul vs Rahsaan
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Rahul
Eran #11155
616 births · Peak 1980
Jerrett #11157
1,243 births · Peak 1980
Lashon #11154
716 births · Peak 1974
Patrik #11158
692 births · Peak 1992
Tyrice #11153
965 births · Peak 1991
Damascus #11159
129 births · Peak 1981
Toure #11152
420 births · Peak 2008
Germaine #11160
2,364 births · Peak 1972
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, 1966–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rahul: #11156 Boys' Name - 3,332 Births, Peak 2000." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rahul. 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 Rahul 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.