Markel: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#3,111

among boys · ↓413 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Markel · -20% vs 2024

How common

1 in 43,797

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1999

183 babies

All-time total

4,829

#1,858 all-time among boys

First recorded

1948

in Social Security records

Markel popularity over time

4,829 babies have been named Markel since 1948, 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

BoysGirls

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	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	10	10	1	–	#3,998
1950s	–	63	63	6	+530%	#2,550
1960s	–	89	89	9	+41%	#2,205
1970s	10	132	142	14	+60%	#2,444
1980s	5	326	331	33	+133%	#1,529
1990s	84	1,259	1,343	134	+306%	#832
2000s	22	1,447	1,469	147	+9%	#946
2010s	–	1,015	1,015	102	-31%	#1,355
2020s (to 2025)	–	367	367	61	-40%	#1,841

Where Markel is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	36	0.02	outside top 500
2027	33	0.02	outside top 500
2028	31	0.02	outside top 500
2029	30	0.02	outside top 500
2030	28	0.02	outside top 500

The story of Markel

Markel is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,111 in 2025 with 39 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1948, 4,829 American babies have been named Markel. Its peak came in 1999, when 183 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 Markel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Markel?

The median living Markel is about 22 years old; half are between 14 and 30. An estimated 4,700 people named Markel 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.

Markel 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	–	–	39	#3,111
2024	–	–	49	#2,698
2023	–	–	63	#2,262
2022	–	–	62	#2,310
2021	–	–	73	#2,032
2020	–	–	81	#1,841
2019	–	–	86	#1,800
2018	–	–	85	#1,803
2017	–	–	81	#1,839
2016	–	–	92	#1,704
2015	–	–	110	#1,511
2014	–	–	95	#1,637
2013	–	–	110	#1,489
2012	–	–	107	#1,510
2011	–	–	123	#1,369
2010	–	–	126	#1,355
2009	–	–	144	#1,247
2008	–	–	147	#1,201
2007	–	–	139	#1,267
2006	–	–	138	#1,221
2005	8	#12,586	169	#1,006
2004	–	–	149	#1,074
2003	–	–	136	#1,123
2002	8	#11,795	118	#1,189
2001	6	#14,676	164	#946
2000	–	–	143	#1,023
1995	8	#10,166	167	#832
1990	12	#7,144	75	#1,281
1985	–	–	42	#1,561
1980	–	–	18	#2,684
1975	5	#9,989	11	#3,359
1970	–	–	11	#3,003
1965	–	–	8	#3,154
1960	–	–	10	#2,797
1955	–	–	7	#3,388
1950	–	–	5	#4,007
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Markel

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

1 Markel Susaeta Spanish footballer (born 1987) Contemporary
2 Markel Bergara Spanish footballer (born 1986) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Markel?

The median living Markel is about 22 years old. Half of all living Markels are between 14 and 30 years old.

How many people named Markel are alive today?

An estimated 4,700 people named Markel are alive in the United States, based on 4,829 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Markel mean?

Markel is a given name and surname.

How popular is the name Markel in 2025?

Markel ranked #3,111 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 39 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Markel?

4,829 babies have been named Markel in the United States since 1948, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Markel most popular?

Markel peaked in 1999, when 183 newborns received the name.

Is Markel a boy or girl name?

Markel is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 97% of babies with the name.

Is the name Markel rising or falling?

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

Will Markel become more popular?

Markel is trending downward. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 28 boys named Markel in 2030, which would rank outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Markel?

Well-known people named Markel include Markel Susaeta (soccer player), Markel Bergara (soccer player).

Names like Markel

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

Compare Markel with similar names → More names starting with M →