Cadell
A Welsh masculine name meaning "battle chief" or "war leader".
Name Census estimates that about 89 living Americans carry the first name Cadell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Cadell today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cadell births was 2011 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cadell. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Cadell. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
89
~ 1 in 3,851,172 Americans
Peak year
2011
9 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,585
Tracked since 1995
Popularity
Cadell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cadell from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 47 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cadell by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cadell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cadell
The given name Cadell has its origins in the Welsh language, with roots that can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Welsh word "cadell," which means "battle" or "conflict." The name was particularly prevalent in Wales, where it was often bestowed upon individuals born into noble or warrior families.
In ancient Welsh literature, such as the Mabinogion, a collection of tales from the 11th to 13th centuries, the name Cadell appears frequently. One notable example is Cadell ap Rhodri, a 9th-century king of Gwynedd, a realm in northwestern Wales. His reign was marked by conflicts with neighboring kingdoms and the Vikings, reflecting the warrior connotations of his name.
The earliest recorded use of the name Cadell dates back to the 6th century, when a Welsh prince named Cadell ap Cynfelyn was mentioned in historical records. He played a significant role in the battles against the Anglo-Saxons, further solidifying the name's association with martial prowess.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Cadell. One of the most prominent figures was Cadell ap Gruffydd (c. 1070-1110), a Welsh prince and leader who led a revolt against Norman rule in Wales. His life and deeds were celebrated in medieval Welsh poetry and literature.
Another illustrious bearer of the name was Cadell Deyrnllwg (fl. c. 580-610), a Welsh king and warrior who fought against the Anglo-Saxons and is mentioned in the Harleian genealogies, a collection of Welsh genealogies from the 13th century.
In more recent times, Cadell Everitt (1705-1781) was a Welsh inventor and engineer who is credited with developing the first modern iron smelting process, revolutionizing the iron industry in Britain.
Cadell Fegan (1883-1971) was an Irish actor and playwright who gained fame for his performances in both English and Irish-language productions, contributing to the preservation of Irish cultural heritage.
Finally, Cadell Wilcox (1939-2011) was an American artist renowned for his abstract expressionist paintings, which explored themes of spirituality and human emotion through vibrant colors and dynamic brushwork.
While the name Cadell may have ancient roots, its enduring presence throughout history serves as a testament to its cultural significance and the valor associated with its origins in the Welsh language.
People
Cadell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cadell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cadell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cadell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 89 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cadell going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 3,851,172 US residents.
Is Cadell a common name?
We classify Cadell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 62.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 90 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cadell most popular?
The single biggest year for Cadell was 2011, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cadell is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cadell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cadell in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.