Christel: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	26	3	–	#3,045
1920s	38	4	+46%	#4,276
1930s	75	8	+97%	#2,718
1940s	88	9	+17%	#2,448
1950s	285	29	+224%	#1,633
1960s	539	54	+89%	#1,291
1970s	1,542	154	+186%	#763
1980s	585	59	-62%	#1,352
1990s	227	23	-61%	#3,170
2000s	162	16	-29%	#5,248
2010s	101	10	-38%	#7,189
2020s (to 2025)	44	7	-27%	#8,564

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#3,045

1920s

+46%

#4,276

1930s

+97%

#2,718

1940s

+17%

#2,448

1950s

285

+224%

#1,633

1960s

539

+89%

#1,291

1970s

1,542

154

+186%

#763

1980s

585

-62%

#1,352

1990s

227

-61%

#3,170

2000s

162

-29%

#5,248

2010s

101

-38%

#7,189

2020s (to 2025)

-27%

#8,564

The story of Christel

Christel is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1912, 3,712 American babies have been named Christel. Its peak came in 1978, when 202 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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

How old are people named Christel?

The median living Christel is about 49 years old; half are between 42 and 55. An estimated 3,400 people named Christel are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Christel year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	12	#8,564
2023	11	#9,111
2022	9	#10,571
2021	7	#12,485
2020	5	#15,629
2019	–	–
2018	12	#8,723
2017	9	#10,884
2016	12	#9,011
2015	9	#11,094
2014	9	#11,183
2013	10	#10,431
2012	9	#11,476
2011	17	#7,189
2010	14	#8,359
2009	7	#14,012
2008	11	#10,236
2007	19	#6,885
2006	19	#6,642
2005	21	#5,854
2004	24	#5,248
2003	13	#8,090
2002	16	#6,773
2001	18	#6,123
2000	14	#7,251
1995	26	#4,000
1990	35	#3,170
1985	48	#2,180
1980	93	#1,352
1975	158	#845
1970	129	#974
1965	45	#1,674
1960	48	#1,618
1955	34	#1,813
1950	9	#3,713
1945	7	#3,721
1940	12	#2,448
1935	10	#2,766
1930	6	#4,120
1925	–	–
1920	5	#5,108
1915	6	#3,859
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Christel, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Christel?

The median living Christel is about 49 years old. Half of all living Christels are between 42 and 55 years old.

How many people named Christel are alive today?

An estimated 3,400 people named Christel are alive in the United States, based on 3,712 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Christel in 2025?

Christel did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Christel?

3,712 babies have been named Christel in the United States since 1912, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Christel most popular?

Christel peaked in 1978, when 202 newborns received the name.

Is Christel a boy or girl name?

Christel is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Christel rising or falling?

Christel has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Christel

Christel popularity over time

The story of Christel

How old are people named Christel?

Christel year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Christel