Rael
Every Rael since 1971 — 660 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rael
Rael is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,529 in 2025 with 53 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1971, 660 American babies have been named Rael — about 69% boys and 31% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2024, when 72 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Rael stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rael 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 | 13 | #8,237 | 53 | #2,529 |
| 2024 | 11 | #9,429 | 61 | #2,337 |
| 2023 | 7 | #13,153 | 26 | #4,188 |
| 2022 | 10 | #10,236 | 46 | #2,821 |
| 2021 | — | — | 26 | #4,099 |
| 2020 | — | — | 18 | #5,185 |
| 2019 | 6 | #15,171 | 19 | #5,110 |
| 2018 | — | — | 22 | #4,574 |
| 2017 | — | — | 21 | #4,707 |
| 2016 | 6 | #15,809 | 6 | #11,804 |
| 2015 | 6 | #15,980 | 7 | #10,366 |
| 2014 | 6 | #16,093 | 8 | #9,411 |
| 2013 | 11 | #10,097 | 10 | #7,961 |
| 2012 | 8 | #13,173 | 6 | #11,925 |
| 2011 | — | — | 8 | #9,398 |
| 2010 | 8 | #13,188 | 7 | #10,482 |
| 2009 | 6 | #16,795 | 9 | #8,829 |
| 2008 | 6 | #16,997 | 8 | #9,648 |
| 2007 | 8 | #13,630 | 6 | #12,020 |
| 2006 | — | — | 13 | #6,377 |
| 2005 | 5 | #18,513 | 7 | #9,887 |
| 2004 | — | — | 7 | #9,694 |
| 2003 | 9 | #11,118 | 10 | #7,112 |
| 2002 | 5 | #17,480 | — | — |
| 2001 | 9 | #10,806 | 5 | #11,883 |
| 2000 | 6 | #14,575 | 5 | #11,722 |
| 1995 | 8 | #10,265 | — | — |
| 1990 | 8 | #9,919 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | 6 | #6,055 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Rael in 2025?
Rael ranked #2,529 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 53 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Rael?
660 babies have been named Rael in the United States since 1971, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rael most popular?
Rael peaked in 2024, when 72 newborns received the name.
Is Rael a boy or girl name?
Rael is used for both: about 31% of babies named Rael have been girls and 69% boys.
Is the name Rael rising or falling?
Rael is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.