Sonal: 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	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	8	1	–	#5,905
1970s	189	19	+2262%	#2,735
1980s	192	19	+2%	#2,821
1990s	118	12	-39%	#4,847
2000s	68	7	-42%	#9,789
2010s	17	2	-75%	#16,515
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

#5,905

1970s

189

+2262%

#2,735

1980s

192

+2%

#2,821

1990s

118

-39%

#4,847

2000s

-42%

#9,789

2010s

-75%

#16,515

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Sonal

Sonal is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1969, 592 American babies have been named Sonal. Its peak came in 1982, when 33 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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

How old are people named Sonal?

The median living Sonal is about 41 years old; half are between 31 and 48. An estimated 600 people named Sonal 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.

Sonal year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	6	#16,592
2011	6	#16,515
2010	5	#19,481
2009	–	–
2008	8	#13,658
2007	9	#12,548
2006	9	#12,295
2005	5	#18,818
2004	7	#14,000
2003	7	#13,658
2002	6	#15,153
2001	7	#13,304
2000	10	#9,789
1995	7	#11,633
1990	20	#4,847
1985	17	#4,617
1980	19	#4,127
1975	28	#2,735
1970	12	#4,729
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Sonal?

The median living Sonal is about 41 years old. Half of all living Sonals are between 31 and 48 years old.

How many people named Sonal are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Sonal are alive in the United States, based on 592 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Sonal in 2025?

Sonal did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Sonal?

592 babies have been named Sonal in the United States since 1969, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Sonal most popular?

Sonal peaked in 1982, when 33 newborns received the name.

Is Sonal a boy or girl name?

Sonal is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Sonal rising or falling?

Sonal has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Sonal?

Well-known people named Sonal include Sonal Chauhan (actor).

Sonal

Sonal popularity over time

The story of Sonal

How old are people named Sonal?

Sonal year by year

Famous people named Sonal

Frequently asked questions

Names like Sonal