Ansel
Every Ansel since 1882 — 4,811 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ansel
Ansel is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,138 in 2025 with 186 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1882, 4,811 American babies have been named Ansel. Its peak came in 2025, when 186 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Ansel stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ansel 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 | — | — | 186 | #1,138 |
| 2024 | — | — | 153 | #1,286 |
| 2023 | — | — | 166 | #1,203 |
| 2022 | — | — | 146 | #1,300 |
| 2021 | — | — | 157 | #1,225 |
| 2020 | — | — | 163 | #1,179 |
| 2019 | — | — | 137 | #1,327 |
| 2018 | — | — | 171 | #1,129 |
| 2017 | — | — | 148 | #1,236 |
| 2016 | 5 | #16,500 | 160 | #1,183 |
| 2015 | — | — | 158 | #1,175 |
| 2014 | — | — | 109 | #1,485 |
| 2013 | — | — | 102 | #1,546 |
| 2012 | — | — | 69 | #2,017 |
| 2011 | — | — | 75 | #1,867 |
| 2010 | — | — | 75 | #1,899 |
| 2009 | — | — | 51 | #2,487 |
| 2008 | — | — | 63 | #2,141 |
| 2007 | — | — | 62 | #2,164 |
| 2006 | — | — | 49 | #2,479 |
| 2005 | — | — | 70 | #1,839 |
| 2004 | — | — | 50 | #2,285 |
| 2003 | — | — | 45 | #2,355 |
| 2002 | — | — | 38 | #2,561 |
| 2001 | — | — | 28 | #3,145 |
| 2000 | — | — | 27 | #3,153 |
| 1995 | — | — | 28 | #2,628 |
| 1990 | — | — | 21 | #2,957 |
| 1985 | — | — | 22 | #2,360 |
| 1980 | — | — | 19 | #2,540 |
| 1975 | — | — | 9 | #3,673 |
| 1970 | — | — | 22 | #1,889 |
| 1965 | — | — | 18 | #1,857 |
| 1960 | — | — | 10 | #2,692 |
| 1955 | — | — | 19 | #1,792 |
| 1950 | — | — | 16 | #1,882 |
| 1945 | — | — | 20 | #1,497 |
| 1940 | — | — | 22 | #1,434 |
| 1935 | — | — | 19 | #1,586 |
| 1930 | — | — | 37 | #1,152 |
| 1925 | — | — | 44 | #1,042 |
| 1920 | — | — | 36 | #1,208 |
| 1915 | — | — | 42 | #963 |
| 1910 | — | — | 8 | #1,201 |
| 1905 | — | — | 6 | #1,095 |
| 1900 | — | — | 5 | #1,321 |
| 1895 | — | — | 9 | #741 |
| 1890 | — | — | 6 | #889 |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Ansel
- Ansel Adams Photographer · 1902–1984
- Ansel Elgort Actor · b. 1994
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Ansel in 2025?
Ansel ranked #1,138 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 186 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ansel?
4,811 babies have been named Ansel in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ansel most popular?
Ansel peaked in 2025, when 186 newborns received the name.
Is Ansel a boy or girl name?
Ansel is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ansel rising or falling?
Ansel is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ansel?
Well-known people named Ansel include Ansel Adams (photographer), Ansel Elgort (actor).