Unisex name · peaked 2021

Amal

Borrowed from Arabic أَمَل (ʔamal, “hope”).

Every Amal since 1962 — 4,513 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex — comparable across eras
0.050.10.150.218801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Rank 2025
#1,241
among girls
Babies in 2025
197
named Amal
Peak year
2021
247 babies
All-time total
4,513
since 1962

The story of Amal

Amal is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #1,241 in 2025 with 181 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1962, 4,513 American babies have been named Amal — about 92% girls and 8% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2021, when 247 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.

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 Amal stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

Amal 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 181 #1,241 16 #5,620
2024 192 #1,223 10 #7,800
2023 201 #1,196 11 #7,313
2022 200 #1,208 15 #5,891
2021 241 #1,045 6 #10,870
2020 215 #1,120 10 #7,527
2019 179 #1,287 8 #8,938
2018 183 #1,262 7 #9,731
2017 173 #1,340 9 #8,184
2016 136 #1,615 8 #8,870
2015 117 #1,779 13 #6,339
2014 87 #2,178 5 #12,205
2013 69 #2,570 9 #8,146
2012 82 #2,290
2011 63 #2,767 8 #8,799
2010 53 #3,127
2009 64 #2,781 5 #12,582
2008 70 #2,631 10 #7,717
2007 84 #2,294 12 #6,640
2006 60 #2,888 9 #8,023
2005 68 #2,528 5 #11,549
2004 72 #2,371 14 #5,506
2003 93 #1,947 12 #5,891
2002 59 #2,606 16 #4,713
2001 97 #1,820 9 #6,948
2000 71 #2,213 8 #7,458
1995 57 #2,311 5 #8,929
1990 46 #2,572 6 #7,212
1985 25 #3,420 5 #6,564
1980 23 #3,511
1975 18 #3,639
1970 15 #3,876 7 #3,857
1965 6 #5,827
1960
1955
1950
1945
1940
1935
1930
1925
1920
1915
1910
1905
1900
1895
1890
1885
1880

Famous people named Amal

  1. Amal Clooney Social activist · b. 1978

Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Amal mean?

Borrowed from Arabic أَمَل (ʔamal, “hope”).

How popular is the name Amal in 2025?

Amal ranked #1,241 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 181 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Amal?

4,513 babies have been named Amal in the United States since 1962, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Amal most popular?

Amal peaked in 2021, when 247 newborns received the name.

Is Amal a boy or girl name?

Amal is used for both: about 92% of babies named Amal have been girls and 8% boys.

Is the name Amal rising or falling?

Amal is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Amal?

Well-known people named Amal include Amal Clooney (social activist).

Names like Amal

Compare Amal with similar names →