Declining since 2003, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Nahuel since 2001
Babies named Nahuel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 125 |
| 2010s | 77 |
| 2020s | 44 |
Meaning & origin
Nahuel is a Mapuche name meaning 'jaguar' that entered U.S. records in 2001. As of 2025 it ranks 12,008, with roughly 1 in 341,615 boys receiving it. Its peak year was 2003, and it has been in a falling trajectory since. The name has no recorded top states in U.S. data, suggesting a broad but thin distribution. Its limited presence outside South America keeps it rare in the United States, appealing to families with Chilean or Argentine heritage or those seeking a distinctive name with indigenous roots. The trajectory decline since 2003 mirrors many exotic names that see initial interest followed by steady waning.
Nahuel derives from the Mapuche word for 'jaguar' (specifically the extinct Patagonian jaguar). It has been used as a given name in Chile and Argentina, often evoking strength and ferocity. The name gained some international attention through the Argentine writer and poet Nahuel Cerezo (born 1979) and the protagonist of the 2016 animated film 'The Little Prince' (Nahuel).
“Nahuel” around the world
Where Nahuel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Nahuel
Names that share Nahuel's style, for a brother or sister.
