Holding steady, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Aurel since 1913
Babies named Aurel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1927, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Aurel's real moment was 1917.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 18 | 65 |
| 1920s | 15 | 89 |
| 1930s | 0 | 13 |
| 1940s | 0 | 10 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 7 |
| 2020s | 0 | 19 |
Meaning & origin
Aurel is a rare masculine name with Latin roots meaning 'golden.' It first appeared in U.S. records in 1913 and reached its peak popularity in 1917, though it has never been common. As of 2025, it ranks 8,910th, with a frequency of 1 in 213,510 births. The name has shown a stable trajectory over the past century, neither surging nor declining sharply. Aurel is more prevalent in Romania, France, and Germany than in English-speaking countries. Its golden etymology and classical associations give it an understated, sophisticated appeal for parents seeking a distinctive yet historically grounded name.
Aurel is derived from the Latin cognomen Aurelius, a family name stemming from aureus, meaning 'golden.' It is the masculine equivalent of Aurelia. Historically, Aurelius was borne by the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and the name has been used across Europe, particularly in Romania and France, since the Roman era. In modern times, Aurel functions as a given name in various languages, often associated with an intellectual or classical vibe.
“Aurel” around the world
Where Aurel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
40
babies in 2024
Quebec
8
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Auri, Rel
Sibling names for Aurel
Names that share Aurel's style, for a brother or sister.
