Boy · #12,323 in 2026

Rival

A rivalry is the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each participant or side a rival to the other. Someone's main rival may be called an archrival.

Current Rank
#12,323
Peak Rank
#12,323 (2022)
Total Babies
5
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2022
First Year
2022
Last Year
2022
Peak Year
#12323
Peak Rank
5
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Rival

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A rivalry is the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each participant or side a rival to the other. Someone's main rival may be called an archrival.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Rivalry between France and Germany has existed as long as the two nations states have; here, officers from the Prussian Gardes du Corps, wishing to provoke war, sharpen their swords on the steps of the French embassy in Berlin in the autumn of 1806. A rivalry generally refers to competition between people or groups, where each strives to be more successful than the other. Alternatively, and especially when used in the verb form (rivaled and rivaling in American English , and rivalled and rivalling in British English ) it may indicate a relationship of equality, as in "the rival of their peers,

The Story of Rival

Rival first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2022, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 5 Rivals were born — ranking #12,323 that year. As of 2026, Rival ranks #12,323 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Rivals have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2020s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
11-50
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101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Rival

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

  • Arrival
  • Rivale
  • Revel
  • Ravel
  • Rivel
  • Revil
  • Raval
  • Reville
  • Revelle
  • Reveal
  • Rifle
  • Rivals

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Rival

What does the name Rival mean?
A rivalry is the state of two people or groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each participant or side a rival to the other. Someone's main rival may be called an archrival.
How popular is Rival in 2026?
In 2026, Rival ranks #12,323 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Rival most popular?
Rival reached its peak popularity in 2022, ranking #12,323 that year with 5 babies given the name.
Is Rival a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Rival is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Rival?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Rival include Aadhrit, Aavyaan, Ababacar. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Aadhrit
Peak #12323
👦
Aavyaan
Peak #12323
👦
Ababacar
Peak #12323
👦
Abdulmateen
Peak #12323
👦
Addox
Peak #12323
👦
Ahari
Peak #12323
👦
Ahmadi
Peak #12323
👦
Ahonor
Peak #12323

About the name Rival

Rival is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2022 and has accumulated 5 births in the dataset. Rival's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #12,323. Use the chart and map above to compare Rival'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.