Holding steady, #7,133 for girls today.
Popularity of Galadriel since 1969
Babies named Galadriel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2003, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Galadriel's real moment was 2025.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 81 |
| 1980s | 21 |
| 1990s | 6 |
| 2000s | 55 |
| 2010s | 20 |
| 2020s | 46 |
Meaning & origin
Galadriel is a name of literary origin, coined by J.R.R. Tolkien for the Elven queen in his Middle-earth mythology. First recorded in the U.S. in 1969, the name remained rare for decades but has seen a steady increase, ranking 7,133 in 2025 with a one-in-107,151 incidence. Its peak year so far is 2025, and recent data shows stability in its trajectory. Galadriel is used almost exclusively for girls, and its top state of use is Texas. The name carries an ethereal, fantasy-inspired quality that appeals to fans of Tolkien's works.
Galadriel is a name invented by J.R.R. Tolkien for his legendarium, first appearing in The Lord of the Rings (1954-1955). It is a Sindarin (an Elvish language created by Tolkien) compound of galad 'radiance, light' and riel 'garlanded maiden.' The character Galadriel is a powerful Elf queen in Middle-earth. The name entered limited real-world use after the books' popularity, especially following the Peter Jackson film adaptations in the 2000s.
Where Galadriel is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Galadriel” around the world
Where Galadriel 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: Gala
Sibling names for Galadriel
Names that share Galadriel's style, for a brother or sister.
