Total births
1,416
Boys' name · since 1908
Yale
Since 1908, U.S. Social Security records show 1,416 babies named Yale, peaking in 1929. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,416
- total births
- 1908–2022
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 15%
- born in that decade
1,416 boys have been named Yale since 1908, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Yale recorded 1,416 times among boys since 1908, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used boys names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1908 to 2022.
- 1,416 total births
- 1908–2022 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 15% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
1,416 boys have been named Yale since 1908, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 2022.
- 1,416
- total births
- 1908–2022
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 15%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
15% of everyone ever named Yale was born in this single decade.
1929
Single peak year
29 babies were named Yale in 1929 - its busiest year on record.
Yale's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Yale's SSA record in two at 1965 and the more recent half accounts for 40% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 60%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1974, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1929 peak of 29, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Yale at a glance
Last recorded 2022Peak year
1929
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1908
Yale popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1908–2022
- Peak year (1929)
- 29
- Annual births at peak, across 115 years of records
Yale by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Yale's strongest decade.
217 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 15% of all-time use.
Yale births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 6
1900s
6 births
- 1910s
1910s
143 births
- 1920s
1920s
217 births
- 1930s
1930s
138 births
- 1940s
1940s
140 births
- 1950s
1950s
129 births
- 1960s
1960s
164 births
- 1970s
1970s
99 births
- 1980s
1980s
115 births
- 1990s
1990s
120 births
- 2000s 77
2000s
77 births
- 2010s 57
2010s
57 births
- 2020s 11
2020s
11 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 217 births (15% of all-time use).
How Yale 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 Yale's total volume
Yale vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Yale by state
Where Yale concentrates geographically, total births since 1908
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New York | | 88 | 6.2% |
| #2 | California | | 11 | 0.8% |
New York share of Yale's total US births 6.2%
Even split
88 of 1,416 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Yale? ▼
Since 1908, Social Security records show 1,416 babies named Yale. The most recent recorded year was 2022. Its busiest year on record was 1929, with 29 births.
When was Yale most popular? ▼
Yale was most popular in the 1920s decade with 217 total births. The single peak year was 1929.
Where is Yale most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Yale are New York (88 births), California (11 births).
How long has the name Yale been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Yale since 1908 -- 115 years through the most recent 2022 data.
What names are similar to Yale? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Yali. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Yale's data
- Yale's decade-level peak was the 1920s (217 total births); usage has since declined to 11 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- New York records the most Yales (88 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. New York 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 Yale
Nearby Names Like Yale
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Yale
Compare Yale side by side: Yale vs Yali
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1908–2022 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Yale: Baby Name Since 1908 - 1,416 Births, Peak 1929." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/yale. 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 Yale 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 July 2026.