Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 1979

Sunil

Meaning very black or blue, dark Gender Boy Rank 2025 Below top lists

From Sanskrit सुनील (sunīla, “very black or blue, dark”); ultimately from सु (su) + नील (nīla).

Rank 2025
–
among boys
Babies in 2025
<5
named Sunil
How common
–
boys born in 2025
Peak year
1979
42 babies
All-time total
989
#5,173 all-time among boys
First recorded
1962
in Social Security records

Sunil popularity over time

989 babies have been named Sunil since 1962, 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
0.010.020.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1979Boys

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 – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s 99 10 – #1,801
1970s 300 30 +203% #1,461
1980s 285 29 -5% #1,497
1990s 169 17 -41% #2,632
2000s 95 10 -44% #4,860
2010s 41 4 -57% #8,060
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Sunil

Sunil 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 1962, 989 American babies have been named Sunil. Its peak came in 1979, when 42 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

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

How old are people named Sunil?

The median living Sunil is about 42 years old; half are between 32 and 50. An estimated 900 people named Sunil are alive in the United States today.

median 42 020406080100

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

Sunil year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 6 #11,952
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 6 #11,957
2015 6 #11,900
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 10 #8,060
2011 6 #12,078
2010 7 #10,610
2009 10 #8,229
2008 7 #10,891
2007 8 #9,658
2006 8 #9,457
2005 6 #11,286
2004 7 #9,805
2003 10 #7,176
2002 8 #8,342
2001 16 #4,860
2000 15 #5,008
1995 8 #6,898
1990 12 #4,640
1985 21 #2,492
1980 32 #1,802
1975 33 #1,589
1970 19 #2,116
1965 6 #3,883
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Sunil

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

  1. 1 Sunil Dutt Sunil Dutt Indian film actor and politician (1929–2005) Contemporary
  2. 2 Sunil Mittal Sunil Mittal Indian industrialist and philanthropist (born 1957) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Sunil?

The median living Sunil is about 42 years old. Half of all living Sunils are between 32 and 50 years old.

How many people named Sunil are alive today?

An estimated 900 people named Sunil are alive in the United States, based on 989 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Sunil mean?

From Sanskrit सुनील (sunīla, “very black or blue, dark”); ultimately from सु (su) + नील (nīla).

How popular is the name Sunil in 2025?

Sunil 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 Sunil?

989 babies have been named Sunil in the United States since 1962, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Sunil most popular?

Sunil peaked in 1979, when 42 newborns received the name.

Is Sunil a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Sunil rising or falling?

Sunil is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Sunil?

Well-known people named Sunil include Sunil Dutt (actor), Sunil Mittal (businessperson).

Names like Sunil

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

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