Sal
A diminutive of the male given names Salomon, Salvador, and Salvatore.
Every Sal since 1909 — 3,663 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Sal
Sal is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #6,735 in 2025 with 13 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1909, 3,663 American babies have been named Sal. Its peak came in 1958, when 114 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
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 Sal stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Sal year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | #6,735 |
| 2024 | 12 | #7,190 |
| 2023 | 9 | #8,804 |
| 2022 | 11 | #7,664 |
| 2021 | 15 | #5,980 |
| 2020 | 9 | #8,606 |
| 2019 | 7 | #10,608 |
| 2018 | 7 | #10,545 |
| 2017 | 6 | #11,961 |
| 2016 | 16 | #5,744 |
| 2015 | — | — |
| 2014 | 11 | #7,462 |
| 2013 | 5 | #13,704 |
| 2012 | — | — |
| 2011 | 5 | #13,966 |
| 2010 | 8 | #9,513 |
| 2009 | 8 | #9,707 |
| 2008 | 5 | #14,234 |
| 2007 | 5 | #14,019 |
| 2006 | 13 | #6,387 |
| 2005 | 16 | #5,236 |
| 2004 | 15 | #5,439 |
| 2003 | 13 | #5,823 |
| 2002 | 15 | #5,093 |
| 2001 | 23 | #3,701 |
| 2000 | 10 | #6,737 |
| 1995 | 22 | #3,172 |
| 1990 | 29 | #2,421 |
| 1985 | 29 | #2,006 |
| 1980 | 18 | #2,704 |
| 1975 | 21 | #2,192 |
| 1970 | 56 | #1,100 |
| 1965 | 62 | #941 |
| 1960 | 104 | #757 |
| 1955 | 33 | #1,336 |
| 1950 | 30 | #1,337 |
| 1945 | 58 | #827 |
| 1940 | 51 | #888 |
| 1935 | 49 | #912 |
| 1930 | 19 | #1,743 |
| 1925 | 34 | #1,243 |
| 1920 | 30 | #1,345 |
| 1915 | 21 | #1,545 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Sal
- Sal Mineo Actor · 1939–1976
- Saúl Ñíguez Soccer player · b. 1994
- Saúl Martínez Soccer player · b. 1976
- Sal Khan Mathematician · b. 1976
- Saúl Craviotto Athlete · b. 1984
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sal mean?
A diminutive of the male given names Salomon, Salvador, and Salvatore.
How popular is the name Sal in 2025?
Sal ranked #6,735 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 13 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Sal?
3,663 babies have been named Sal in the United States since 1909, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Sal most popular?
Sal peaked in 1958, when 114 newborns received the name.
Is Sal a boy or girl name?
Sal is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Sal rising or falling?
Sal is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Sal?
Well-known people named Sal include Sal Mineo (actor), Saúl Ñíguez (soccer player), Saúl Martínez (soccer player).