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.
- #4,115 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,416
- born since 1908
- 1920s
- peak 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.
- #4,115 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- 1,416 born since 1908
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Yale ranks #4,115 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 1,416 born since 1908, peaking in the 1920s.
- #4,115 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- 1,416
- born since 1908
- 1920s
- peak decade
Yale's 1,416 recorded births place it above 90.95% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 2 jurisdictions, led by New York.
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 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
1920s is the heaviest window (217 births, 15% of the file).
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 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% |
88 of 1,416 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Yale? ▼
Where does Yale sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Yale most popular? ▼
Where is Yale most popular? ▼
How long has the name Yale been used? ▼
What names are similar to Yale? ▼
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
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
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Yale: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1929)
Similar record span (~114 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, 1908–2022 (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 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 August 2026.