Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1958

Sal

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #6,735

A diminutive of the male given names Salomon, Salvador, and Salvatore.

Rank 2025
#6,735
among boys · ↑455 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
13
named Sal
How common
1 in 131,390
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1958
114 babies
All-time total
3,663
#2,232 all-time among boys
First recorded
1909
in Social Security records

Sal popularity over time

3,663 babies have been named Sal since 1909, 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
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1958Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s 8 1 – #1,141
1910s 158 16 +1875% #1,181
1920s 274 27 +73% #1,243
1930s 405 41 +48% #854
1940s 529 53 +31% #827
1950s 531 53 0% #702
1960s 759 76 +43% #757
1970s 328 33 -57% #1,100
1980s 203 20 -38% #2,006
1990s 211 21 +4% #2,421
2000s 123 12 -42% #3,701
2010s 65 7 -47% #5,744
2020s (to 2025) 69 12 +77% #5,980

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.

How old are people named Sal?

The median living Sal is about 60 years old; half are between 41 and 67. An estimated 2,300 people named Sal are alive in the United States today.

median 60 020406080100

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

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

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

  1. 1 Sal Mineo Sal Mineo American actor (1939–1976) Contemporary
  2. 2 Sal Khan Sal Khan American educator (born 1976) Contemporary
  3. 3 Saúl Ñíguez Saúl Ñíguez Spanish footballer (born 1994) Contemporary
  4. 4 Saúl Craviotto Saúl Craviotto Spanish sprinter kayaker b. 1984 · Contemporary
  5. 5 Saúl Martínez Honduran footballer (born 1976) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Sal?

The median living Sal is about 60 years old. Half of all living Sals are between 41 and 67 years old.

How many people named Sal are alive today?

An estimated 2,300 people named Sal are alive in the United States, based on 3,663 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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), Sal Khan (mathematician), Saúl Ñíguez (soccer player).

Names like Sal

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

Compare Sal with similar names → More names starting with S →