Rigel: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	–	–	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	21	21	2	–	#4,759
1980s	5	62	67	7	+219%	#4,070
1990s	–	91	91	9	+36%	#5,052
2000s	–	128	128	13	+41%	#5,258
2010s	5	214	219	22	+71%	#3,349
2020s (to 2025)	–	116	116	19	-12%	#4,461

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#4,759

1980s

+219%

#4,070

1990s

–

+36%

#5,052

2000s

–

128

+41%

#5,258

2010s

214

219

+71%

#3,349

2020s (to 2025)

–

116

-12%

#4,461

The story of Rigel

Rigel is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,158 in 2025 with 19 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1976, 642 American babies have been named Rigel. Its peak came in 2016, when 34 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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

How old are people named Rigel?

The median living Rigel is about 14 years old; half are between 7 and 27. An estimated 600 people named Rigel 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.

Rigel 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	–	–	19	#5,158
2024	–	–	15	#6,125
2023	–	–	22	#4,712
2022	–	–	20	#4,983
2021	–	–	23	#4,461
2020	–	–	17	#5,410
2019	–	–	22	#4,609
2018	–	–	34	#3,357
2017	–	–	26	#4,081
2016	–	–	34	#3,349
2015	5	#18,565	27	#3,966
2014	–	–	22	#4,503
2013	–	–	13	#6,537
2012	–	–	11	#7,439
2011	–	–	15	#5,888
2010	–	–	10	#8,012
2009	–	–	17	#5,498
2008	–	–	15	#6,002
2007	–	–	16	#5,627
2006	–	–	12	#6,819
2005	–	–	11	#7,011
2004	–	–	9	#8,039
2003	–	–	13	#5,816
2002	–	–	11	#6,431
2001	–	–	10	#6,830
2000	–	–	14	#5,258
1995	–	–	9	#6,309
1990	–	–	7	#7,012
1985	–	–	6	#6,361
1980	5	#11,699	10	#4,070
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	–	–	–	–
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	–	–	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Rigel?

The median living Rigel is about 14 years old. Half of all living Rigels are between 7 and 27 years old.

How many people named Rigel are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Rigel are alive in the United States, based on 642 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Rigel in 2025?

Rigel ranked #5,158 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 19 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Rigel?

642 babies have been named Rigel in the United States since 1976, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Rigel most popular?

Rigel peaked in 2016, when 34 newborns received the name.

Is Rigel a boy or girl name?

Rigel is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 98% of babies with the name.

Is the name Rigel rising or falling?

Rigel has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Rigel

Rigel popularity over time

The story of Rigel

How old are people named Rigel?

Rigel year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Rigel