Rising since 1985, #8,243 for boys today.
Popularity of Kamel since 1973
Babies named Kamel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 50 |
| 1980s | 82 |
| 1990s | 122 |
| 2000s | 142 |
| 2010s | 133 |
| 2020s | 70 |
Meaning & origin
Kamel is a masculine name of Arabic origin, directly meaning 'perfect' or 'complete' from the Arabic root k-m-l. It has been in use in the United States since at least 1973, though it remains uncommon. The name reached its peak popularity in 2012, and its usage has been slowly rising since the mid-1980s, reflecting broader interest in culturally rich names. In 2025, Kamel was given to roughly 1 in every 189,786 newborn boys, marking it as a distinctive choice. While it lacks top-state concentration due to its rarity, the name carries strong cultural resonance in Arabic-speaking communities and pairs naturally with sibling names like Omar and Layla.
Kamel is a transliteration of the Arabic 'كامل' (kāmil), derived from the root k-m-l, meaning complete or perfect. It is a common given name across the Arabic-speaking world, also used in North African and Middle Eastern cultures. The name is closely related to the feminine form Kamila and has been borne by many historical figures.
“Kamel” around the world
Where Kamel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Kamo
Sibling names for Kamel
Names that share Kamel's style, for a brother or sister.
