Holding steady, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Beryl since 1880
Babies named Beryl per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Beryl's real moment was 1905.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 163 | 0 |
| 1890s | 374 | 27 |
| 1900s | 687 | 59 |
| 1910s | 1,806 | 476 |
| 1920s | 2,256 | 620 |
| 1930s | 1,558 | 495 |
| 1940s | 1,253 | 335 |
| 1950s | 1,128 | 166 |
| 1960s | 416 | 119 |
| 1970s | 109 | 25 |
| 1980s | 105 | 16 |
| 1990s | 91 | 0 |
| 2000s | 46 | 0 |
| 2010s | 95 | 0 |
| 2020s | 43 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Beryl is a gemstone name that sparkled most brightly in the early 1900s, peaking in 1905 when it ranked much higher than its current position of 10,917 in 2025. The name follows the Victorian trend of using precious stone names for girls, alongside Pearl and Ruby. With 1 in 200,908 babies receiving the name in 2025, Beryl is a rare choice today, appealing to parents seeking a vintage name with a natural, elegant feel. Its trajectory has been stable in recent years, maintaining a quiet but steady presence among antique revivals.
Beryl derives from the Greek word 'beryllos', referring to a precious stone of a sea-green color. The gemstone name was adopted as a given name in the 19th century, part of the Victorian fashion for jewel names. It enjoyed particular popularity in the early 1900s in English-speaking countries.
Where Beryl is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Beryl” around the world
Where Beryl lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
30
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Berry
Sibling names for Beryl
Names that share Beryl's style, for a brother or sister.
