Hal
Hal was the 3151st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 38 babies. Its best year was 1956, when it ranked 305th with 598 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,626 places. More babies were named Hal in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #3,151 boys, up 214 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 38boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1956598 babies
- Total since 1880
- 16,796babies recorded
Hal popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 12 since 1924.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,151 | 38 |
| 2020 | #3,365 | 33 |
| 2010 | #7,783 | 10 |
| 2000 | #3,571 | 23 |
| 1990 | #2,275 | 31 |
| 1980 | #1,051 | 74 |
| 1970 | #734 | 125 |
| 1960 | #394 | 403 |
| 1950 | #348 | 371 |
| 1940 | #414 | 196 |
| 1930 | #481 | 153 |
| 1920 | #435 | 193 |
| 1910 | #504 | 31 |
| 1900 | #459 | 25 |
| 1890 | #397 | 21 |
| 1880 | #773 | 7 |
How popular is Hal, counting every spelling?
Hal has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Hal?
38 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Hal (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Hal born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 221 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Hal.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Hal?
About 8,200 people born in the US named Hal are alive today, with a median age of 67; half are between 56 and 74. That makes Hal a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Hal by state
How common Hal was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 48 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Hal: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Hal, they share its era and feel.
Hal is also a nickname for Henry and Harold.
Questions about the name Hal
How popular is the name Hal?
Hal was the 3151st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 38 babies. Its best year was 1956, when it ranked 305th with 598 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,626 places. More babies were named Hal in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Hal a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Hal in the US.
Where is Hal most popular?
In 2021–2025, Hal was most common in Utah (0.06 per 1,000 boys), followed by New York and California.