Beryl
From beryl or an anglicization of Yiddish בערל (berl, literally “little bear”).
Every Beryl since 1880 — 12,468 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Beryl
Beryl is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #11,101 in 2025 with 8 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 12,468 American babies have been named Beryl — about 81% girls and 19% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1920, when 379 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1920s.
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 Beryl stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Beryl 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 | 8 | #11,101 | — | — |
| 2024 | 8 | #11,283 | — | — |
| 2023 | 9 | #10,450 | — | — |
| 2022 | 9 | #10,527 | — | — |
| 2021 | — | — | — | — |
| 2020 | 9 | #10,385 | — | — |
| 2019 | 8 | #11,536 | — | — |
| 2018 | 9 | #10,699 | — | — |
| 2017 | 14 | #7,911 | — | — |
| 2016 | 9 | #11,017 | — | — |
| 2015 | 9 | #11,030 | — | — |
| 2014 | 14 | #8,123 | — | — |
| 2013 | 10 | #10,379 | — | — |
| 2012 | 12 | #9,197 | — | — |
| 2011 | — | — | — | — |
| 2010 | 10 | #10,553 | — | — |
| 2009 | — | — | — | — |
| 2008 | 5 | #17,952 | — | — |
| 2007 | 7 | #14,152 | — | — |
| 2006 | — | — | — | — |
| 2005 | 9 | #11,055 | — | — |
| 2004 | 7 | #12,959 | — | — |
| 2003 | 7 | #12,605 | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | 11 | #8,634 | — | — |
| 1995 | 12 | #7,106 | — | — |
| 1990 | 13 | #6,506 | — | — |
| 1985 | 7 | #8,429 | — | — |
| 1980 | 8 | #7,483 | — | — |
| 1975 | 10 | #5,558 | — | — |
| 1970 | 10 | #5,085 | 5 | #4,794 |
| 1965 | 34 | #1,998 | 9 | #2,800 |
| 1960 | 63 | #1,386 | 14 | #2,218 |
| 1955 | 111 | #932 | 13 | #2,225 |
| 1950 | 145 | #710 | 28 | #1,365 |
| 1945 | 100 | #750 | 31 | #1,185 |
| 1940 | 130 | #613 | 32 | #1,184 |
| 1935 | 117 | #603 | 42 | #980 |
| 1930 | 197 | #477 | 54 | #909 |
| 1925 | 200 | #496 | 56 | #903 |
| 1920 | 311 | #374 | 68 | #812 |
| 1915 | 211 | #410 | 75 | #672 |
| 1910 | 91 | #413 | 8 | #1,208 |
| 1905 | 78 | #384 | 9 | #843 |
| 1900 | 59 | #431 | — | — |
| 1895 | 40 | #457 | — | — |
| 1890 | 32 | #462 | 5 | #1,018 |
| 1885 | 12 | #629 | — | — |
| 1880 | 11 | #519 | — | — |
Famous people named Beryl
- Beryl Markham Writer · 1902–1986
- Beryl Bainbridge Writer · 1932–2010
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Beryl mean?
From beryl or an anglicization of Yiddish בערל (berl, literally “little bear”).
How popular is the name Beryl in 2025?
Beryl ranked #11,101 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 8 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Beryl?
12,468 babies have been named Beryl in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Beryl most popular?
Beryl peaked in 1920, when 379 newborns received the name.
Is Beryl a boy or girl name?
Beryl is used for both: about 81% of babies named Beryl have been girls and 19% boys.
Is the name Beryl rising or falling?
Beryl is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Beryl?
Well-known people named Beryl include Beryl Markham (writer), Beryl Bainbridge (writer).