Total births
36,502
Boys' name · since 1885
Terrell
Terrell has 36,502 recorded births since 1885 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1989 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #1496
- among boys today
- 36,502
- born since 1885
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 90%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Terrell is the #1496 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 36,502 recorded since 1885.
Social Security Administration records show Terrell recorded 36,502 times among boys since 1885, holding rank #1496 nationally today, ahead of 90% of boys, peaking in the 1990s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1885 to 2025.
- #1496 among boys today
- 36,502 born since 1885
- 1990s peak decade
- 90% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Terrell is currently the #1496 boys' name in America, more common than 90% of boys - 36,502 born since 1885, peaking in the 1990s.
- #1496
- among boys today
- 36,502
- born since 1885
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 90%
- more common than other boys
Terrell vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1496
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 90% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
22% of everyone ever named Terrell was born in this single decade.
1989
Single peak year
983 babies were named Terrell in 1989 - its busiest year on record.
How Terrell compares
36,502 Top 4% higher than 96% 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
Terrell's all-time total is 99x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Terrell | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 36,502 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 983 | 23 | 22,252 |
Terrell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Terrell's SSA record in two at 1963 and the more recent half accounts for 85% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 15%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1885, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1989 peak of 983, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Terrell at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1989
Current rank
#1,496
Active since
1885
Terrell popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1885–2025
- Peak year (1989)
- 983
- Annual births at peak, across 141 years of records
Terrell popularity over time - girls
1,585 total births recorded since 1920 (Terrell as girls' name)
Terrell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Terrell's strongest decade.
7,924 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 22% of all-time use.
Terrell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 5
1880s
5 births
- 1890s 5
1890s
5 births
- 1900s 49
1900s
49 births
- 1910s 244
1910s
244 births
- 1920s 403
1920s
403 births
- 1930s 572
1930s
572 births
- 1940s 1,517
1940s
1,517 births
- 1950s 2,044
1950s
2,044 births
- 1960s 2,559
1960s
2,559 births
- 1970s
1970s
4,434 births
- 1980s
1980s
7,916 births
- 1990s
1990s
7,924 births
- 2000s
2000s
5,141 births
- 2010s 2,836
2010s
2,836 births
- 2020s 853
2020s
853 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 7,924 births (22% of all-time use).
How Terrell 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 Terrell's total volume
Terrell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Terrell by state
Where Terrell concentrates geographically, total births since 1885
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Illinois | | 2,520 | 6.9% |
| #2 | Georgia | | 2,354 | 6.4% |
| #3 | New York | | 2,340 | 6.4% |
| #4 | Florida | | 2,223 | 6.1% |
| #5 | California | | 2,186 | 6.0% |
| #6 | Texas | | 1,927 | 5.3% |
| #7 | Louisiana | | 1,778 | 4.9% |
| #8 | Michigan | | 1,587 | 4.3% |
Illinois share of Terrell's total US births 6.9%
Even split
2,520 of 36,502 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 40 reporting states.
Terrell appears in 40 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Terrell? ▼
Since 1885, Social Security records show 36,502 babies named Terrell. Today it holds rank #1496 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 1989, with 983 births.
When was Terrell most popular? ▼
Terrell was most popular in the 1990s decade with 7,924 total births. The single peak year was 1989.
Where is Terrell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Terrell are Illinois (2,520 births), Georgia (2,354 births), New York (2,340 births).
How long has the name Terrell been used? ▼
Terrell has been recorded in Social Security data since 1885, spanning 141 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Terrell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Terry, Terrence, Terrance, Terence, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Terrell's data
- Terrell's decade-level peak was the 1990s (7,924 total births); usage has since declined to 853 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Illinois records the most Terrells (2,520 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Illinois 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 Terrell
Nearby Names Like Terrell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Terrell
Terry Boy
#1186 424,523 births
Terrence Boy
#1522 72,412 births
Terrance Boy
#1292 70,170 births
Terence Boy
#2922 34,290 births
Terrill Boy
#11053 4,365 births
Compare Terrell side by side: Terrell vs Terry Terrell vs Terrence Terrell vs Terrance
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Terrell
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, 1885–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Terrell: #1496 Boys' Name - 36,502 Births, Peak 1989." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/terrell. 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 Terrell 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.