Vadal
Of Hindi origin, meaning woodworm or termite.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Vadal. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Vadal today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Vadal births was 1993 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Vadal. 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 Vadal. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1993
5 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
1993 SSA rank
#10,084
Tracked since 1993
Popularity
Vadal: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Vadal 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 Vadal during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Vadal
The given name Vadal finds its origins in the Sanskrit language, with roots dating back to ancient India. It is believed to have been derived from the word "vada," which means "to speak" or "to argue." The name Vadal, therefore, carries a connotation of being articulate, persuasive, and skilled in rhetoric.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vadal can be found in the Mahabharata, a revered Hindu epic composed between the 8th and 9th centuries BCE. In this ancient text, Vadal is mentioned as the name of a warrior who fought alongside the Pandavas in the great battle of Kurukshetra.
Throughout the centuries, the name Vadal has been borne by several notable individuals. One such person was Vadal Desai, a prominent 15th-century Gujarati poet and scholar who made significant contributions to the literary tradition of his time. His birth year is estimated to be around 1420 CE, and he is renowned for his seminal work, the "Vadal Granth."
In the 16th century, Vadal Nath, a revered Hindu mystic and saint, lived in the region of Rajasthan. Born in 1507 CE, he is remembered for his spiritual teachings and his dedication to the Nath tradition of Yoga and Tantra.
The 18th century saw the rise of Vadal Rai, a influential figure in the Maratha Empire of India. Born in 1720 CE, he served as a military commander and strategist under the legendary Maratha ruler, Shivaji Maharaj, and played a pivotal role in several battles against the Mughal forces.
In more recent times, Vadal Narayanan, a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer, graced the stage with his performances. Born in 1934, he was widely acclaimed for his mastery of the Bharatanatyam dance form and his efforts in preserving and promoting India's rich cultural heritage.
These are but a few examples of the individuals who have borne the name Vadal throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human civilization.
People
Vadal + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Vadal as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Vadal: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Vadal?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Vadal 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Vadal a common name?
We classify Vadal as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Vadal most popular?
The single biggest year for Vadal was 1993, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Vadal is about 32 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 Vadal in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Vadal a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Vadal 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 Vadal still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Vadal 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 Vadal 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 Vadal?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.