Neal
A male given name from Irish, transferred from the surname.
Every Neal since 1880 — 55,305 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Neal
Neal is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,914 in 2025 with 82 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 55,305 American babies have been named Neal. Its peak came in 1959, when 1,222 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 Neal stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Neal 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 | — | — | 82 | #1,914 |
| 2024 | — | — | 77 | #2,006 |
| 2023 | — | — | 95 | #1,741 |
| 2022 | — | — | 110 | #1,604 |
| 2021 | — | — | 110 | #1,582 |
| 2020 | — | — | 104 | #1,572 |
| 2019 | — | — | 118 | #1,470 |
| 2018 | — | — | 102 | #1,615 |
| 2017 | — | — | 132 | #1,356 |
| 2016 | — | — | 152 | #1,231 |
| 2015 | — | — | 152 | #1,213 |
| 2014 | — | — | 120 | #1,410 |
| 2013 | — | — | 99 | #1,575 |
| 2012 | — | — | 105 | #1,530 |
| 2011 | — | — | 97 | #1,595 |
| 2010 | — | — | 114 | #1,453 |
| 2009 | — | — | 113 | #1,481 |
| 2008 | — | — | 112 | #1,475 |
| 2007 | — | — | 116 | #1,409 |
| 2006 | — | — | 139 | #1,213 |
| 2005 | — | — | 131 | #1,214 |
| 2004 | — | — | 112 | #1,323 |
| 2003 | — | — | 129 | #1,166 |
| 2002 | — | — | 169 | #952 |
| 2001 | — | — | 172 | #911 |
| 2000 | — | — | 178 | #888 |
| 1995 | — | — | 258 | #650 |
| 1990 | — | — | 463 | #460 |
| 1985 | — | — | 562 | #340 |
| 1980 | — | — | 592 | #323 |
| 1975 | — | — | 648 | #293 |
| 1970 | — | — | 718 | #289 |
| 1965 | 7 | #5,646 | 884 | #250 |
| 1960 | — | — | 1,192 | #233 |
| 1955 | 9 | #4,289 | 1,060 | #220 |
| 1950 | 5 | #5,875 | 848 | #217 |
| 1945 | 7 | #3,918 | 578 | #233 |
| 1940 | — | — | 506 | #239 |
| 1935 | 5 | #4,708 | 415 | #265 |
| 1930 | — | — | 381 | #292 |
| 1925 | 11 | #3,071 | 420 | #282 |
| 1920 | 6 | #4,806 | 371 | #293 |
| 1915 | 5 | #4,771 | 228 | #355 |
| 1910 | 5 | #2,682 | 65 | #307 |
| 1905 | — | — | 45 | #302 |
| 1900 | — | — | 58 | #270 |
| 1895 | — | — | 38 | #292 |
| 1890 | — | — | 40 | #273 |
| 1885 | — | — | 33 | #294 |
| 1880 | — | — | 43 | #257 |
Famous people named Neal
- Neal Cassady Writer · 1926–1968
- Neal Stephenson Writer · b. 1959
- Neal Hefti Musician · 1922–2008
- Neal Morse Singer · b. 1960
- Neal E. Miller Psychologist · 1909–2002
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Neal mean?
A male given name from Irish, transferred from the surname.
How popular is the name Neal in 2025?
Neal ranked #1,914 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 82 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Neal?
55,305 babies have been named Neal in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Neal most popular?
Neal peaked in 1959, when 1,222 newborns received the name.
Is Neal a boy or girl name?
Neal is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Neal rising or falling?
Neal is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Neal?
Well-known people named Neal include Neal Cassady (writer), Neal Stephenson (writer), Neal Hefti (musician).