Declining since 2012, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Avel since 1932
Babies named Avel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1930s | 11 |
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 15 |
| 1960s | 13 |
| 1970s | 37 |
| 1980s | 52 |
| 1990s | 71 |
| 2000s | 91 |
| 2010s | 106 |
| 2020s | 41 |
Meaning & origin
Avel is a rare and straightforward name, given to fewer than a handful of boys each year in the United States. Its peak came in 2013, when it reached its highest rank, but since 2012 its usage has been falling back toward obscurity. Avel ranks 8910 in 2025, meaning approximately 1 in 213,510 newborn boys receives the name. As a sparingly used variant of the biblical Abel, Avel appeals to parents who want a unique yet familiar sound, often as a short, unadorned choice that fits modern minimalist naming tastes. It has yet to appear among any top state lists, suggesting its use remains geographically scattered. The name's simplicity and closeness to more common names like Abel may help it maintain a quiet but steady presence in the years to come.
Avel is likely a modern variant of the Hebrew name Abel, which means 'breath' or 'vapor'. It may also be an invented name combining sounds popular in contemporary naming. The name has been used sparingly in the United States since the early 20th century.
“Avel” around the world
Where Avel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Avi, Vel
Sibling names for Avel
Names that share Avel's style, for a brother or sister.
