Kunal: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#11,430

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Kunal

How common

1 in 284,679

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1994

60 babies

All-time total

1,259

#4,428 all-time among boys

First recorded

1977

in Social Security records

Kunal popularity over time

1,259 babies have been named Kunal since 1977, 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

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	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	14	1	–	#4,026
1980s	351	35	+2407%	#1,304
1990s	454	45	+29%	#1,553
2000s	324	32	-29%	#2,074
2010s	92	9	-72%	#5,873
2020s (to 2025)	24	4	-57%	#10,154

The story of Kunal

Kunal is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #11,430 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1977, 1,259 American babies have been named Kunal. Its peak came in 1994, when 60 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

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

How old are people named Kunal?

The median living Kunal is about 29 years old; half are between 22 and 37. An estimated 1,200 people named Kunal 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.

Kunal year by year

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

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	6	#11,430
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	6	#11,682
2021	5	#13,244
2020	7	#10,154
2019	5	#13,260
2018	8	#9,285
2017	6	#11,571
2016	6	#11,553
2015	10	#7,808
2014	11	#7,335
2013	8	#9,291
2012	15	#5,873
2011	14	#6,124
2010	9	#8,504
2009	30	#3,603
2008	17	#5,389
2007	19	#4,913
2006	28	#3,653
2005	30	#3,355
2004	37	#2,823
2003	34	#2,893
2002	37	#2,620
2001	43	#2,327
2000	49	#2,074
1995	31	#2,475
1990	38	#1,998
1985	43	#1,536
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Kunal

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

1 Kunal Nayyar British actor (born 1981) Contemporary
2 Kunal Ganjawala Indian singer b. 1972 · Contemporary
3 Kunal Kapoor Topics referred to by the same term b. 1977 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Kunal?

The median living Kunal is about 29 years old. Half of all living Kunals are between 22 and 37 years old.

How many people named Kunal are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named Kunal are alive in the United States, based on 1,259 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Kunal mean?

Borrowed from Sanskrit कुणाल (kuṇāla).

How popular is the name Kunal in 2025?

Kunal ranked #11,430 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Kunal?

1,259 babies have been named Kunal in the United States since 1977, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Kunal most popular?

Kunal peaked in 1994, when 60 newborns received the name.

Is Kunal a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Kunal rising or falling?

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

Who are famous people named Kunal?

Well-known people named Kunal include Kunal Nayyar (actor), Kunal Ganjawala (singer), Kunal Kapoor (actor).

Names like Kunal

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

Compare Kunal with similar names → More names starting with K →