Boy · #8,237 in 2026

Lyell

Name: Popularity of the name Lyell in U.S. births, 1880–2026
Creator: U.S. Social Security Administration
License: https://www.ssa.gov/foia/
Keywords: Lyell, baby name, popularity, U.S., SSA, rankings

Current Rank

#8,237

Peak Rank

#2,459 (1920)

Total Babies

140

5-Yr Trend

Stable

1913

First Year

1991

Last Year

1920

Peak Year

#2459

Peak Rank

140

Total Count

Years Active

The Story of Lyell

Lyell first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1913, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1920, when 12 Lyells were born — ranking #2,459 that year. As of 2026, Lyell ranks #8,237 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 140 Lyells have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

Names that sound like Lyell

Phonetically similar names — useful when Lyell is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lyell

What does the name Lyell mean?

Lyell is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1913. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Lyell in 2026?

In 2026, Lyell ranks #8,237 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.

When was Lyell most popular?

Lyell reached its peak popularity in 1920, ranking #2,459 that year with 12 babies given the name.

Is Lyell a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Lyell is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Lyell?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Lyell include Cleatis, Eldrige, Clester. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Lyell

Lyell is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1913 and has accumulated 140 births in the dataset. Lyell's peak popularity came in 1920 when it ranked #2,459. Use the chart and map above to compare Lyell's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.