Adel
Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *aþalaz.
Every Adel since 1888 — 3,002 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Adel
Adel is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,708 in 2025 with 21 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1888, 3,002 American babies have been named Adel — about 50% boys and 50% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2006, when 65 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Adel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Adel year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | #4,355 | 21 | #4,708 |
| 2024 | 25 | #5,149 | 38 | #3,161 |
| 2023 | 21 | #5,755 | 37 | #3,228 |
| 2022 | 20 | #5,986 | 34 | #3,412 |
| 2021 | 19 | #6,179 | 30 | #3,652 |
| 2020 | 20 | #5,852 | 37 | #3,075 |
| 2019 | 20 | #5,988 | 36 | #3,201 |
| 2018 | 21 | #5,787 | 42 | #2,848 |
| 2017 | 15 | #7,448 | 39 | #3,008 |
| 2016 | 17 | #6,906 | 39 | #2,994 |
| 2015 | 24 | #5,465 | 41 | #2,865 |
| 2014 | 23 | #5,625 | 42 | #2,805 |
| 2013 | 14 | #8,150 | 29 | #3,583 |
| 2012 | 24 | #5,561 | 39 | #2,955 |
| 2011 | 17 | #7,123 | 40 | #2,904 |
| 2010 | 9 | #11,264 | 41 | #2,875 |
| 2009 | 25 | #5,540 | 34 | #3,275 |
| 2008 | 17 | #7,414 | 40 | #2,949 |
| 2007 | 11 | #10,136 | 52 | #2,444 |
| 2006 | 14 | #8,242 | 51 | #2,401 |
| 2005 | 9 | #10,931 | 41 | #2,655 |
| 2004 | 13 | #8,266 | 37 | #2,789 |
| 2003 | 12 | #8,512 | 34 | #2,847 |
| 2002 | 9 | #10,263 | 38 | #2,557 |
| 2001 | 11 | #8,765 | 34 | #2,745 |
| 2000 | 6 | #13,176 | 31 | #2,866 |
| 1995 | 6 | #11,796 | 30 | #2,501 |
| 1990 | — | — | 19 | #3,166 |
| 1985 | 7 | #8,322 | 15 | #3,071 |
| 1980 | 11 | #5,914 | 11 | #3,617 |
| 1975 | 11 | #5,161 | 8 | #3,946 |
| 1970 | 7 | #6,364 | — | — |
| 1965 | 12 | #3,734 | — | — |
| 1960 | 13 | #3,512 | — | — |
| 1955 | 13 | #3,225 | — | — |
| 1950 | 10 | #3,424 | — | — |
| 1945 | 9 | #3,132 | — | — |
| 1940 | 5 | #4,351 | — | — |
| 1935 | 14 | #2,206 | — | — |
| 1930 | 17 | #2,023 | 6 | #3,596 |
| 1925 | 22 | #1,847 | — | — |
| 1920 | 21 | #1,889 | 6 | #3,817 |
| 1915 | 20 | #1,673 | — | — |
| 1910 | 10 | #1,521 | — | — |
| 1905 | 10 | #1,238 | — | — |
| 1900 | 8 | #1,431 | — | — |
| 1895 | 11 | #986 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Adel
- Adel Shah Politician · 1719–1749
- Adel Emam Actor · b. 1940
- Adel al-Jubeir Politician · b. 1962
- Adel Safar Politician · b. 1953
- Adel Sellimi Soccer player · b. 1972
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Adel mean?
Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *aþalaz.
How popular is the name Adel in 2025?
Adel ranked #4,708 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 21 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Adel?
3,002 babies have been named Adel in the United States since 1888, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Adel most popular?
Adel peaked in 2006, when 65 newborns received the name.
Is Adel a boy or girl name?
Adel is used for both: about 50% of babies named Adel have been girls and 50% boys.
Is the name Adel rising or falling?
Adel has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Adel?
Well-known people named Adel include Adel Shah (politician), Adel Emam (actor), Adel al-Jubeir (politician).