Hal
A diminutive lambdacism of Harry (compare Sally from Sarah and Moll from Mary).
Every Hal since 1880 — 16,796 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Hal
Hal is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #3,151 in 2025 with 38 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 16,796 American babies have been named Hal. Its peak came in 1956, when 598 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 Hal stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Hal 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 | — | — | 38 | #3,151 |
| 2024 | — | — | 33 | #3,481 |
| 2023 | — | — | 41 | #3,023 |
| 2022 | — | — | 15 | #5,968 |
| 2021 | — | — | 30 | #3,680 |
| 2020 | — | — | 33 | #3,365 |
| 2019 | — | — | 21 | #4,687 |
| 2018 | — | — | 30 | #3,643 |
| 2017 | — | — | 16 | #5,620 |
| 2016 | — | — | 15 | #5,885 |
| 2015 | — | — | 20 | #4,777 |
| 2014 | — | — | 22 | #4,438 |
| 2013 | — | — | 16 | #5,479 |
| 2012 | — | — | 19 | #4,920 |
| 2011 | — | — | 15 | #5,769 |
| 2010 | — | — | 10 | #7,783 |
| 2009 | — | — | 12 | #6,960 |
| 2008 | — | — | 9 | #8,537 |
| 2007 | — | — | 15 | #5,747 |
| 2006 | — | — | 14 | #5,887 |
| 2005 | — | — | 8 | #8,564 |
| 2004 | — | — | 9 | #7,756 |
| 2003 | — | — | 26 | #3,473 |
| 2002 | — | — | 22 | #3,840 |
| 2001 | — | — | 18 | #4,353 |
| 2000 | — | — | 23 | #3,571 |
| 1995 | — | — | 20 | #3,358 |
| 1990 | — | — | 31 | #2,275 |
| 1985 | — | — | 59 | #1,247 |
| 1980 | — | — | 74 | #1,051 |
| 1975 | — | — | 79 | #924 |
| 1970 | — | — | 125 | #734 |
| 1965 | — | — | 199 | #544 |
| 1960 | — | — | 403 | #394 |
| 1955 | — | — | 455 | #342 |
| 1950 | — | — | 371 | #348 |
| 1945 | — | — | 211 | #414 |
| 1940 | — | — | 196 | #414 |
| 1935 | — | — | 201 | #383 |
| 1930 | — | — | 153 | #481 |
| 1925 | — | — | 191 | #431 |
| 1920 | — | — | 193 | #435 |
| 1915 | — | — | 152 | #442 |
| 1910 | — | — | 31 | #504 |
| 1905 | — | — | 20 | #512 |
| 1900 | — | — | 25 | #459 |
| 1895 | — | — | 20 | #446 |
| 1890 | — | — | 21 | #397 |
| 1885 | — | — | 15 | #490 |
| 1880 | — | — | 7 | #773 |
Famous people named Hal
- Hal Holbrook Actor · b. 1925
- Hal Moore Military personnel · 1922–2017
- Hal Ashby Film director · 1929–1988
- Hal Clement Writer · 1922–2003
- Hal Roach Film director · 1892–1992
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Hal mean?
A diminutive lambdacism of Harry (compare Sally from Sarah and Moll from Mary).
How popular is the name Hal in 2025?
Hal ranked #3,151 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 38 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Hal?
16,796 babies have been named Hal in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Hal most popular?
Hal peaked in 1956, when 598 newborns received the name.
Is Hal a boy or girl name?
Hal is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Hal rising or falling?
Hal is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Hal?
Well-known people named Hal include Hal Holbrook (actor), Hal Moore (military personnel), Hal Ashby (film director).