Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1917

Erle

Meaning A rare spelling variant of Earl Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

A rare spelling variant of Earl.

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Erle
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1917
28 babies
All-time total
855
#5,677 all-time among boys
First recorded
1882
in Social Security records

Erle popularity over time

855 babies have been named Erle since 1882, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1891Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 10 1 – #983
1890s 18 2 +80% #795
1900s 7 1 -61% #1,131
1910s 153 15 +2086% #1,223
1920s 186 19 +22% #1,547
1930s 128 13 -31% #1,665
1940s 123 12 -4% #1,782
1950s 120 12 -2% #1,561
1960s 81 8 -32% #2,373
1970s 24 2 -70% #3,025
1980s 5 1 -79% #6,580
1990s – – – –
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Erle

Erle 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 1882, 855 American babies have been named Erle. Its peak came in 1917, when 28 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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

How old are people named Erle?

The median living Erle is about 71 years old; half are between 62 and 78. An estimated 300 people named Erle are alive in the United States today.

median 71 020406080100

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

Erle year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 8 #3,613
1965 6 #3,655
1960 7 #3,443
1955 9 #2,834
1950 14 #2,055
1945 8 #2,625
1940 6 #3,232
1935 15 #1,861
1930 13 #2,214
1925 24 #1,547
1920 15 #2,164
1915 16 #1,814
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 5 #983
1880 – –

Famous people named Erle

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Erle Stanley Gardner Erle Stanley Gardner American writer and lawyer (1889–1970) 19th century
  2. 2 Erle C. Kenton Erle C. Kenton American film director (1896–1980) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Erle?

The median living Erle is about 71 years old. Half of all living Erles are between 62 and 78 years old.

How many people named Erle are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Erle are alive in the United States, based on 855 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Erle mean?

A rare spelling variant of Earl.

How popular is the name Erle in 2025?

Erle 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 Erle?

855 babies have been named Erle in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Erle most popular?

Erle peaked in 1917, when 28 newborns received the name.

Is Erle a boy or girl name?

Erle is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Erle rising or falling?

Erle has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Erle?

Well-known people named Erle include Erle Stanley Gardner (writer), Erle C. Kenton (film director).

Names like Erle

Names that sound and feel close to Erle: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Erle with similar names → More names starting with E →