boy's name
Hal
HAL (English)
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 1
- Letters 3
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 17,248
Hal is a boy's name with 1 syllable. In 2025 it was given to 38 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Peaked in 1956, when 598 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1950s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 87,252 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
Hal Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 178 |
| 1890s | 211 |
| 1900s | 229 |
| 1910s | 1,073 |
| 1920s | 1,846 |
| 1930s | 1,810 |
| 1940s | 2,614 |
| 1950s | 4,423 |
| 1960s | 2,199 |
| 1970s | 889 |
| 1980s | 531 |
| 1990s | 263 |
| 2000s | 156 |
| 2010s | 184 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 190 |
How Popular Is Hal?
In 2025, Hal was given to 38 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Hal Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Hal
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Hal Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Hal over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Hal
- English HAL /hæl/
Sibling Names for Hal
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Hal — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Hal
How popular is the name Hal?
In 2025, Hal was given to 38 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Hal a girl's or a boy's name?
Hal is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Hal?
Hal has 1 syllable.
When was Hal most popular?
Hal peaked in 1956, when 598 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1950s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Hal a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Hal currently ranks #3,150 in the United States. After peaking in the 1950s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.