Declining since 1994, #7,194 for boys today.
Popularity of Montel since 1950
Babies named Montel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 15 |
| 1960s | 36 |
| 1970s | 105 |
| 1980s | 137 |
| 1990s | 914 |
| 2000s | 174 |
| 2010s | 121 |
| 2020s | 58 |
Meaning & origin
Montel entered U.S. naming records in 1950 and reached its peak popularity in 1995, when it ranked among the top 1,000 names. Since 1994, its usage has steadily declined; by 2025 it ranked 7,194, with approximately 1 in every 155,280 baby boys receiving the name. Montel is primarily given to boys and remains in occasional use despite its downward trajectory.
Montel is primarily a modern given name, possibly derived from the French surname Montel, itself a topographic name for someone who lived near a hill (from Old French 'mont' meaning hill, with a diminutive suffix). Alternatively, it may have been coined as a variant of Montrell or Monty. Its use as a first name gained visibility in the United States starting in the mid-20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Monty, Tel
Sibling names for Montel
Names that share Montel's style, for a brother or sister.
