Declining since 2014, #7,194 for boys today.
Popularity of Drexel since 1910
Babies named Drexel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1957, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Drexel's real moment was 1914.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 130 |
| 1920s | 163 |
| 1930s | 148 |
| 1940s | 125 |
| 1950s | 194 |
| 1960s | 162 |
| 1970s | 58 |
| 1980s | 70 |
| 1990s | 53 |
| 2000s | 82 |
| 2010s | 145 |
| 2020s | 74 |
Meaning & origin
Drexel is a rare given name in the United States, first recorded in the Social Security data in 1910. Its peak year was 1914, after which usage declined gradually. Since at least 2014, its trajectory has been falling, and in 2025 it ranked 7194 with an incidence of 1 in 155,280 boys. The name has never been recorded in any of the top states, suggesting its appeal is limited and scattered. Likely a surname adoption, Drexel carries a distinctive, old-fashioned sound that may appeal to parents seeking an uncommon name with historical resonance.
Drexel is likely a transferred use of the surname Drexel, which itself may derive from a German or English place name. The name gained modest use in the United States in the early 20th century, possibly influenced by the prominent Drexel family in Philadelphia, known for banking and philanthropy. However, a clear etymological meaning is not established, and the name is generally considered a modern coinage or surname adoption.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Drex
Sibling names for Drexel
Names that share Drexel's style, for a brother or sister.
