Torrell
A masculine name derived from the French surname Torel or Torrel.
Name Census estimates that about 367 living Americans carry the first name Torrell. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Torrell today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Torrell births was 1989 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Torrell. 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
367
~ 1 in 933,936 Americans
Peak year
1989
22 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
2018 SSA rank
#10,638
Tracked since 1965
Popularity
Torrell: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Torrell from the 1960s through to the 2010s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 131 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Torrell 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 Torrell during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Torrells live
Origin
Meaning and history of Torrell
The given name Torrell has its roots in the ancient Germanic languages, with its origins tracing back to the 5th century AD. It is derived from the Old Norse word "þorr," which means "thunder," and is closely related to the Old English word "þunor," also meaning "thunder." This connection to the powerful natural phenomenon of thunder suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were perceived as strong, powerful, or commanding in their presence.
In the early Middle Ages, the name Torrell gained popularity among the Germanic tribes that inhabited the regions of modern-day Germany, Scandinavia, and parts of the British Isles. As these tribes migrated and interacted with other cultures, the name spread and underwent various spelling variations, such as Torrel, Torrill, and Torrell.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Torrell can be found in the Icelandic sagas, a collection of historical and mythological stories from the 13th century. In these sagas, Torrell is mentioned as the name of a prominent Viking warrior and explorer who embarked on daring voyages across the North Atlantic.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Torrell. One such figure was Torrell Pedersson (1614-1687), a Swedish military officer and architect who played a significant role in the construction of fortifications during the Swedish Empire's expansion in the 17th century.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Torrell Ström (1783-1858), a Swedish painter and illustrator who gained recognition for his exquisite landscape paintings capturing the natural beauty of his homeland.
In the realm of literature, Torrell Jacobsen (1906-1988) was a Danish author and poet who made significant contributions to the modernist movement in Danish literature. His works often explored themes of identity, isolation, and the complexities of human existence.
Moving to the world of sports, Torrell Troup (born 1988) is an American former professional football player who played as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for several teams, including the New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills.
Finally, Torrell Harris (born 1991) is a contemporary American professional basketball player who has played for various teams in the NBA G League, the developmental league for the National Basketball Association (NBA).
These examples demonstrate the enduring presence of the name Torrell across various cultures, time periods, and fields of endeavor, reflecting its rich historical significance and versatility.
People
Torrell + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Torrell as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Torrell: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Torrell?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 367 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Torrell 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 933,936 US residents.
Is Torrell a common name?
We classify Torrell as "Very Rare". It ranks above 81.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 381 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Torrell most popular?
The single biggest year for Torrell was 1989, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Torrell is about 35 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Torrell a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Torrell 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.