Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1941

Errol

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #5,454

Transferred from a rare Scottish surname derived from a place name, of unknown meaning.

Rank 2025
#5,454
among boys · ↑540 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
17
named Errol
How common
1 in 100,475
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1941
272 babies
All-time total
8,631
#1,315 all-time among boys
First recorded
1896
in Social Security records

Errol popularity over time

8,631 babies have been named Errol since 1896, 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
0.060.130.190.2518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1941Boys

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 – – – –
1890s 11 1 – #1,024
1900s – – – –
1910s 109 11 – #1,415
1920s 196 20 +80% #1,557
1930s 691 69 +253% #364
1940s 1,797 180 +160% #354
1950s 1,197 120 -33% #584
1960s 1,293 129 +8% #641
1970s 1,064 106 -18% #704
1980s 901 90 -15% #823
1990s 648 65 -28% #1,184
2000s 358 36 -45% #2,063
2010s 275 28 -23% #2,908
2020s (to 2025) 91 15 -45% #4,749

The story of Errol

Errol is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,454 in 2025 with 17 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1896, 8,631 American babies have been named Errol. Its peak came in 1941, when 272 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1940s.

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

How old are people named Errol?

The median living Errol is about 55 years old; half are between 38 and 69. An estimated 6,200 people named Errol are alive in the United States today.

median 55 020406080100

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

Errol year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 17 #5,454
2024 15 #5,994
2023 15 #6,020
2022 8 #9,242
2021 16 #5,618
2020 20 #4,749
2019 23 #4,379
2018 28 #3,816
2017 28 #3,808
2016 25 #4,129
2015 28 #3,811
2014 21 #4,590
2013 39 #2,908
2012 31 #3,468
2011 19 #4,872
2010 33 #3,332
2009 30 #3,578
2008 32 #3,440
2007 32 #3,395
2006 32 #3,334
2005 39 #2,764
2004 37 #2,801
2003 38 #2,634
2002 36 #2,655
2001 33 #2,828
2000 49 #2,063
1995 73 #1,383
1990 85 #1,184
1985 110 #859
1980 114 #823
1975 94 #858
1970 140 #704
1965 125 #663
1960 148 #641
1955 102 #724
1950 136 #584
1945 119 #548
1940 246 #365
1935 17 #1,728
1930 16 #1,914
1925 23 #1,600
1920 20 #1,777
1915 10 #2,500
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Errol

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

  1. 1 Errol Flynn Errol Flynn Australian and American actor (1909–1959) Contemporary
  2. 2 Errol Spence Jr. Errol Spence Jr. American boxer (born 1990) Contemporary
  3. 3 Errol Morris Errol Morris American film director (born 1948) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Errol?

The median living Errol is about 55 years old. Half of all living Errols are between 38 and 69 years old.

How many people named Errol are alive today?

An estimated 6,200 people named Errol are alive in the United States, based on 8,631 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Errol mean?

Transferred from a rare Scottish surname derived from a place name, of unknown meaning.

How popular is the name Errol in 2025?

Errol ranked #5,454 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Errol?

8,631 babies have been named Errol in the United States since 1896, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Errol most popular?

Errol peaked in 1941, when 272 newborns received the name.

Is Errol a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Errol rising or falling?

Errol is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Errol?

Well-known people named Errol include Errol Flynn (actor), Errol Spence Jr. (boxer), Errol Morris (film director).

Names like Errol

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

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