Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1921

Norvel

Gender Boy · 1% girls Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Norvel
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1921
22 babies
All-time total
845
#5,735 all-time among boys
First recorded
1906
in Social Security records

Norvel popularity over time

845 babies have been named Norvel since 1906, 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
0.010.020.030.0418801900192019401960198020002020BoysGirls
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 – 10 10 1 – #1,371
1910s – 129 129 13 +1190% #1,423
1920s – 173 173 17 +34% #1,656
1930s – 171 171 17 -1% #1,526
1940s 5 146 151 15 -12% #1,668
1950s – 91 91 9 -40% #2,130
1960s – 72 72 7 -21% #2,646
1970s – 38 38 4 -47% #4,253
1980s – 10 10 1 -74% #7,064
1990s – – – – – –
2000s – – – – – –
2010s – – – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Norvel

Norvel 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 1906, 845 American babies have been named Norvel. Its peak came in 1921, when 22 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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

How old are people named Norvel?

The median living Norvel is about 72 years old; half are between 59 and 80. An estimated 300 people named Norvel are alive in the United States today.

median 72 020406080100

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

Norvel 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 – – – –
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 – – 5 #6,049
1970 – – 5 #5,233
1965 – – 6 #3,814
1960 – – 8 #3,256
1955 – – – –
1950 – – 12 #2,289
1945 – – 15 #1,833
1940 – – 18 #1,668
1935 – – 21 #1,526
1930 – – 19 #1,740
1925 – – 14 #2,285
1920 – – 17 #2,027
1915 – – 18 #1,698
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Norvel

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

  1. 1 Norvel Lee American Olympic boxer and Tuskegee Airman (1924–1992) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Norvel?

The median living Norvel is about 72 years old. Half of all living Norvels are between 59 and 80 years old.

How many people named Norvel are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Norvel are alive in the United States, based on 845 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Norvel in 2025?

Norvel 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 Norvel?

845 babies have been named Norvel in the United States since 1906, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Norvel most popular?

Norvel peaked in 1921, when 22 newborns received the name.

Is Norvel a boy or girl name?

Norvel is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Norvel rising or falling?

Norvel has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Norvel?

Well-known people named Norvel include Norvel Lee (athlete).

Names like Norvel

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

Compare Norvel with similar names → More names starting with N →