Ruel: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#6,377

among boys · ↑1,281 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Ruel

How common

1 in 122,005

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1915

49 babies

All-time total

1,926

#3,392 all-time among boys

First recorded

1882

in Social Security records

Ruel popularity over time

1,926 babies have been named Ruel since 1882, 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	–	10	10	1	–	#1,045
1890s	–	47	47	5	+370%	#697
1900s	–	62	62	6	+32%	#726
1910s	5	260	265	27	+327%	#890
1920s	–	372	372	37	+40%	#1,019
1930s	–	260	260	26	-30%	#1,089
1940s	–	180	180	18	-31%	#1,431
1950s	–	155	155	16	-14%	#1,568
1960s	–	115	115	12	-26%	#2,024
1970s	–	99	99	10	-14%	#2,532
1980s	–	79	79	8	-20%	#4,073
1990s	–	86	86	9	+9%	#4,137
2000s	–	56	56	6	-35%	#6,442
2010s	–	83	83	8	+48%	#6,559
2020s (to 2025)	–	57	57	10	+14%	#6,377

The story of Ruel

Ruel is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,377 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1882, 1,926 American babies have been named Ruel. Its peak came in 1915, when 49 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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

How old are people named Ruel?

The median living Ruel is about 51 years old; half are between 26 and 70. An estimated 800 people named Ruel 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.

Ruel 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	–	–	14	#6,377
2024	–	–	11	#7,658
2023	–	–	10	#8,146
2022	–	–	10	#8,190
2021	–	–	7	#10,576
2020	–	–	5	#13,667
2019	–	–	8	#9,586
2018	–	–	11	#7,521
2017	–	–	7	#10,557
2016	–	–	8	#9,505
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	13	#6,559
2013	–	–	9	#8,631
2012	–	–	7	#10,541
2011	–	–	9	#8,639
2010	–	–	11	#7,481
2009	–	–	5	#14,091
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	8	#8,939
2004	–	–	12	#6,442
2003	–	–	8	#8,472
2002	–	–	9	#7,518
2001	–	–	8	#8,161
2000	–	–	6	#10,095
1995	–	–	9	#6,315
1990	–	–	14	#4,137
1985	–	–	7	#5,652
1980	–	–	9	#4,434
1975	–	–	7	#4,694
1970	–	–	13	#2,715
1965	–	–	8	#3,200
1960	–	–	17	#2,024
1955	–	–	16	#2,033
1950	–	–	23	#1,568
1945	–	–	17	#1,683
1940	–	–	19	#1,616
1935	–	–	15	#1,905
1930	–	–	31	#1,298
1925	–	–	46	#1,019
1920	–	–	30	#1,344
1915	–	–	49	#890
1910	–	–	8	#1,291
1905	–	–	7	#1,074
1900	–	–	7	#1,147
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Ruel

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

1 Ruel British-Australian singer-songwriter b. 2002 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Ruel?

The median living Ruel is about 51 years old. Half of all living Ruels are between 26 and 70 years old.

How many people named Ruel are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Ruel are alive in the United States, based on 1,926 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Ruel in 2025?

Ruel ranked #6,377 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Ruel?

1,926 babies have been named Ruel in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ruel most popular?

Ruel peaked in 1915, when 49 newborns received the name.

Is Ruel a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Ruel rising or falling?

Ruel is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Ruel?

Well-known people named Ruel include Ruel (musician).

Names like Ruel

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

Compare Ruel with similar names → More names starting with R →