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How Many People Are Named Nigel?

Estimated people named Nigel living in the U.S. today

11,796

Rarity score52/100
Very commonVery rare
RareRarity score 52/1001 in 28,976 peopleRank #2,175 of 104,819Trend: Declining

Check a full name with Nigel →

Gender distribution

99% male · 1% female in SSA records.

Name scorecard

  • Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 12,296
  • Peak year: 1994 (454 births)
  • Estimated living today: 11,796

Nigel by age group — who carries the name today?

Kids (born 2022+)
209
Young Adults (2002–2021)
3,919
Adults (1982–2001)
5,875
Middle-Aged (1962–1981)
1,608
Seniors (1942–1961)
180
Elderly (before 1942)
6

Nigel popularity over time (1880–2024)

18802024

Estimated living bearers by birth decade

1910s
0
1920s
1
1930s
2
1940s
18
1950s
126
1960s
272
1970s
1,038
1980s
1,874
1990s
3,697
2000s
2,791
2010s
1,595
2020s
380

About the name Nigel

Nigel has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 12,296 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 11,796 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 28,976 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Nigels you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).

Frequently asked questions

How many people are named Nigel in the US?

An estimated 11,796 people named Nigel are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Nigel rare — about 1 in 28,976 Americans.

Is Nigel a boy or girl name?

In SSA records, Nigel is 99% male and 1% female, so it is predominantly a male name.

When was Nigel most popular?

Nigel peaked in 1994, when 454 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.

How rare is the name Nigel?

Nigel ranks #2,175 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 52 out of 100 (higher means rarer).