Total births
632
Boys' name · since 1976
Rigel
Since 1976, U.S. Social Security records show 632 babies named Rigel, peaking in 2016. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #5991
- among boys today
- 632
- born since 1976
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 58%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Rigel is the #5991 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 632 recorded since 1976.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Rigel has been recorded 632 times among boys since 1976, currently ranked #5991 nationally and more common than 58% of boys, 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 1976 to 2025.
- #5991 among boys today
- 632 born since 1976
- 2010s peak decade
- 58% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Rigel is currently the #5991 boys' name in America, more common than 58% of boys - 632 born since 1976, peaking in the 2010s.
- #5991
- among boys today
- 632
- born since 1976
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 58%
- more common than other boys
Rigel vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#5991
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 58% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
34% of everyone ever named Rigel was born in this single decade.
2016
Single peak year
34 babies were named Rigel in 2016 - its busiest year on record.
How Rigel compares
632 Top 39% higher than 61% 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
Rigel's all-time total is 72% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Rigel | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 632 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 34 | 23 | 22,252 |
Rigel's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Rigel splits its recorded history at 2002: 69% of all births land in the more recent half, 31% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1984 (5 births) -- compare that against the 2016 peak of 34 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Rigel at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2016
Current rank
#5,991
Active since
1976
Rigel popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1976–2025
- Peak year (2016)
- 34
- Annual births at peak, across 50 years of records
Rigel popularity over time - girls
10 total births recorded since 1980 (Rigel as girls' name)
Rigel by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Rigel's strongest decade.
214 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 34% of all-time use.
Rigel births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 21
1970s
21 births
- 1980s 62
1980s
62 births
- 1990s
1990s
91 births
- 2000s
2000s
128 births
- 2010s
2010s
214 births
- 2020s
2020s
116 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 214 births (34% of all-time use).
How Rigel 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 Rigel's total volume
Rigel vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Rigel by state
Where Rigel concentrates geographically, total births since 1976
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 35 | 5.5% |
| #2 | Texas | | 5 | 0.8% |
California share of Rigel's total US births 5.5%
Even split
35 of 632 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rigel? ▼
Rigel has been given to 632 babies in the U.S. since 1976, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #5991 as of the latest data. 34 babies were born in 2016, its single highest year.
When was Rigel most popular? ▼
Rigel was most popular in the 2010s decade with 214 total births. The single peak year was 2016.
Where is Rigel most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Rigel are California (35 births), Texas (5 births).
How long has the name Rigel been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Rigel since 1976 -- 50 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Rigel? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Rigoberto, Riggs, Rigo, Riggins, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Rigel's data
- Rigel's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (214 total births) through the 2020s (116) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Rigels (35 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 Rigel
Nearby Names Like Rigel
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rigel
Rigoberto Boy
#2084 11,414 births
Riggs Boy
#669 2,986 births
Rigo Boy
#3811 1,830 births
Riggins Boy
#1684 984 births
Riggin Boy
#2623 733 births
Compare Rigel side by side: Rigel vs Rigoberto Rigel vs Riggs Rigel vs Rigo
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Rigel
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, 1976–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rigel: #5991 Boys' Name - 632 Births, Peak 2016." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rigel. 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 Rigel 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.