Boys' name · since 1880
Raoul
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 2,915 babies named Raoul, peaking in 1928. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #2,583 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 2,915
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
2,915 boys have been named Raoul since 1880, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Raoul has been recorded 2,915 times among boys since 1880, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2024.
- #2,583 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 2,915 born since 1880
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Raoul ranks #2,583 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 2,915 born since 1880, peaking in the 1920s.
- #2,583 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 2,915
- born since 1880
- 1920s
- peak decade
Raoul's 2,915 recorded births place it above 94.32% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
9 jurisdictions carry state-level records, led by California.
Raoul's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Raoul's SSA record in two at 1962 and the more recent half accounts for 36% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 64%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1891, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1928 peak of 53, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Raoul popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2024
- Peak year (1928)
- 53
- Annual births at peak, across 145 years of records
Raoul by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (414 births, 14% of the file).
1920s was Raoul's strongest decade.
414 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 14% of all-time use.
Raoul births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 7
1880s
7 births
- 1890s 26
1890s
26 births
- 1900s 29
1900s
29 births
- 1910s
1910s
289 births
- 1920s
1920s
414 births
- 1930s
1930s
364 births
- 1940s
1940s
298 births
- 1950s
1950s
371 births
- 1960s
1960s
307 births
- 1970s
1970s
276 births
- 1980s
1980s
183 births
- 1990s 152
1990s
152 births
- 2000s 97
2000s
97 births
- 2010s 69
2010s
69 births
- 2020s 33
2020s
33 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 414 births (14% of all-time use).
How Raoul 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 Raoul's total volume
Raoul by state
Where Raoul concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 337 | 11.6% |
| #2 | New York | | 147 | 5.0% |
| #3 | Maine | | 108 | 3.7% |
| #4 | Massachusetts | | 104 | 3.6% |
| #5 | Louisiana | | 66 | 2.3% |
| #6 | New Hampshire | | 11 | 0.4% |
| #7 | Illinois | | 10 | 0.3% |
| #8 | Florida | | 5 | 0.2% |
337 of 2,915 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 9 reporting states.
Raoul appears in 9 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Raoul? ▼
Where does Raoul sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Raoul most popular? ▼
Where is Raoul most popular? ▼
How long has the name Raoul been used? ▼
What names are similar to Raoul? ▼
What to do with Raoul's data
- Raoul's decade-level peak was the 1920s (414 total births); usage has since declined to 33 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Raouls (337 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Raoul
Nearby Names Like Raoul
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Raoul
Compare Raoul side by side: Raoul vs Raoof Raoul vs Raon
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Raoul: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1928)
Similar record span (~144 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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, 1880–2024 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
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 Raoul 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 August 2026.