Unisex · #12,106 in 2026

Pal

Current Rank
#12,106
Peak Rank
#2,410 (1961)
Total Babies
187
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #17,634 (15 total)
👦 Boy peak #2,410 (187 total)
👦As Boy Name
1917
First Year
2014
Last Year
1961
Peak Year
#2410
Peak Rank
187
Total Count
27
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
2007
First Year
2024
Last Year
2007
Peak Year
#17634
Peak Rank
15
Total Count
3
Years Active

The Story of Pal

As a girl name

Pal first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2007, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 5 Pals were born — ranking #17,634 that year. As of 2026, Pal ranks #15,243 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 15 Pals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Pal first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1917, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1961, when 12 Pals were born — ranking #2,410 that year. As of 2026, Pal ranks #12,106 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 187 Pals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Pal

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

  • Palle
  • Pole
  • Pill
  • Pale
  • Paul
  • Pile
  • Peel
  • Pail
  • Poll
  • Ple
  • Peal
  • Pall

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pal

What does the name Pal mean?
Pal is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1917. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.
How popular is Pal in 2026?
In 2026, Pal ranks #12,106 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Pal most popular?
Pal reached its peak popularity in 1961, ranking #2,410 that year with 12 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Pal most popular?
Pal has historically been most popular in Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Pal.
Is Pal a unisex name?
Yes — Pal is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 7% of Pals assigned female and 93% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Pal?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Pal include Alphonsa, Silvano, Kelven. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Pal

Pal is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1917 and has accumulated 187 births in the dataset. Pal's peak popularity came in 1961 when it ranked #2,410. Use the chart and map above to compare Pal'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.