Fadel
A masculine Arabic name meaning "superiority" or "excellence".
Name Census estimates that about 208 living Americans carry the first name Fadel. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Fadel today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Fadel births was 2017 (16 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Fadel. 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.
People living today
208
~ 1 in 1,647,857 Americans
Peak year
2017
16 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,234
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Fadel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Fadel from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 99 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Fadel remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fadel 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 Fadel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Fadels live
Origin
Meaning and history of Fadel
The name Fadel has its origins in Arabic, derived from the root word "fadl," which means "grace," "virtue," or "excellence." It is a masculine name that has been popular in the Arab world for centuries.
The earliest recorded use of the name Fadel can be traced back to the 7th century, during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. One of the companions of the prophet was named Fadl ibn Abbas, who was known for his knowledge and wisdom.
In Islamic literature, the name Fadel is mentioned in several hadiths (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) and is often associated with qualities such as generosity, kindness, and righteousness. The Quran also mentions the concept of "fadl," emphasizing the importance of seeking knowledge and wisdom.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Fadel. One of the most famous was Fadel ibn Yahya al-Barmaki, a Persian vizier (prime minister) who served under the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid in the 8th century. He was known for his wisdom, diplomacy, and patronage of the arts and sciences.
Another prominent figure was Fadel ibn Ja'far al-Khazin, a 10th-century Arab mathematician and astronomer from Baghdad. He made significant contributions to the field of trigonometry and wrote several influential treatises on mathematics and astronomy.
In the 12th century, Fadel ibn al-Hasan al-Tabrizi was a renowned Persian poet and scholar who wrote extensively on topics ranging from philosophy to astronomy. His works were widely celebrated and influential in the Islamic world.
During the Mamluk period in Egypt (13th-16th centuries), Fadel ibn Ali al-Malik was a prominent military commander and governor. He played a crucial role in defending Egypt against the Crusaders and was known for his bravery and strategic skills.
In more recent times, Fadel Shaker, born in 1969, is a popular Lebanese singer and composer who has gained widespread recognition across the Arab world for his contributions to modern Arabic music.
Overall, the name Fadel has a rich history and cultural significance, reflecting the values of excellence, virtue, and wisdom that have been cherished in the Arab and Islamic traditions for centuries.
People
Fadel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Fadel as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Fadel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Fadel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 208 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Fadel 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 1,647,857 US residents.
Is Fadel a common name?
We classify Fadel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 74.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 210 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Fadel most popular?
The single biggest year for Fadel was 2017, when 16 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Fadel is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Fadel a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Fadel 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.