Exael
A Hebrew name meaning "God has arisen" or "God lifts up".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Exael. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Exael today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Exael births was 2008 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Exael. 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 Exael. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
2008
6 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2008 SSA rank
#11,513
Tracked since 2008
Popularity
Exael: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Exael 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 Exael during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Exael
The name Exael is believed to have originated in ancient Sumerian culture, one of the earliest civilizations in Mesopotamia, dating back to around 3500 BCE. It is thought to be derived from the Sumerian words "ex" meaning "to come forth" and "ael" meaning "divine light" or "radiance." Together, the name Exael could be interpreted as "one who brings forth divine light" or "radiant one."
While the exact origins of the name are uncertain, some scholars suggest that it may have been inspired by the Sumerian deity Enki, the god of wisdom, creation, and the sweet waters that bring life. Enki was often depicted as a radiant figure, associated with the life-giving waters of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.
The earliest recorded use of the name Exael can be traced back to ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablets, which were used for record-keeping and documentation. However, it is believed that the name was in use long before these written records, passed down through oral traditions and storytelling.
Throughout history, the name Exael has been borne by several notable individuals, although their exact birth and death dates are often uncertain due to the passage of time and limited historical records.
One of the earliest known figures with the name Exael was a Sumerian priest and scholar who lived around 2500 BCE. He is believed to have been instrumental in preserving and disseminating ancient Sumerian knowledge and wisdom.
Another notable Exael was a Babylonian astronomer and mathematician who lived during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, around 600 BCE. He is credited with making significant contributions to the development of astronomy and the understanding of celestial movements.
In the realm of literature, an Exael is mentioned in the ancient Sumerian epic "The Epic of Gilgamesh," one of the oldest known literary works in human history. While the character's role is not clearly defined, the inclusion of the name in such an influential text speaks to its antiquity and cultural significance.
During the medieval period, an Exael was a renowned scholar and philosopher in the Islamic world, known for his contributions to the fields of mathematics, astronomy, and metaphysics. He was highly respected among his contemporaries and his works were widely studied and referenced.
In more recent times, an Exael was a prominent archaeologist and historian who lived in the early 20th century. Through his extensive research and excavations, he helped uncover and preserve invaluable insights into ancient Sumerian and Mesopotamian civilizations.
While the name Exael may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and connection to ancient cultures and intellectual pursuits make it a unique and intriguing name with a sense of wisdom and enlightenment.
People
Exael + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Exael as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Exael: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Exael?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Exael 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Exael a common name?
We classify Exael as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Exael most popular?
The single biggest year for Exael was 2008, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Exael is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Exael in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Exael a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Exael 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.
Is Exael still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Exael in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Exael can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Exael?
You can see how many people have the name Exael on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.