Declining since 2009, #8,243 for boys today.
Popularity of Amel since 1914
Babies named Amel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2001, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Amel's real moment was 1915.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 63 |
| 1920s | 0 | 96 |
| 1930s | 0 | 20 |
| 1940s | 0 | 29 |
| 1950s | 0 | 6 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 13 | 5 |
| 1980s | 15 | 11 |
| 1990s | 68 | 52 |
| 2000s | 140 | 160 |
| 2010s | 160 | 127 |
| 2020s | 80 | 61 |
Meaning & origin
Amel is a unisex name of Arabic origin, meaning 'hope' or 'aspiration'. In the United States, it first appeared in 1914 and saw its peak usage in 1915, though it has never been common. As of 2025, it ranks 8,243, with a frequency of about 1 in 189,786 births. Its trajectory has been falling since 2009. Despite its rarity, Amel carries a profound meaning and is used across multiple cultures, including Bosnian and Turkish communities. The name remains an uncommon but meaningful choice for parents seeking a cross-cultural name with a hopeful sentiment.
Amel is primarily an Arabic name derived from the root 'a-m-l' meaning 'hope' or 'aspiration'. It is also used in Bosnian and Turkish contexts as a unisex name. The name is closely related to Amal, sharing the same etymological root. While less common than Amal in the English-speaking world, Amel has seen historical usage in North Africa and the Balkans, particularly in the early 20th century.
“Amel” around the world
Where Amel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
75
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Amal
Sibling names for Amel
Names that share Amel's style, for a brother or sister.
