Rigel
Meaningfoot · Arabic
- US rank
- #5,045
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #3,293 in 2016
19 babies were named Rigel in the US in 2025. It has climbed 190 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1976–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Rigel you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 90,090 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Rigel, 19 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Rigel would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryRigel first shows up in US birth records in 1976, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 49 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2016, when it reached #3,293.
- TrendRigel has climbed 190 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #5,045. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn Arabic, Rigel means “foot”.
About the name Rigel
Rigel is a boy name meaning “foot”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with R and ending in “-gel”. US birth records list Rigel for boys from 1976 to 2025, in 47 of those 50 years. Its best year was 2016, when it ranked #3,293 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #5,045, with 19 babies.
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 3.2 | 314,961 boys |
| 1980s | 3.4 | 294,118 boys |
| 1990s | 4.7 | 213,220 boys |
| 2000s | 6.4 | 156,250 boys |
| 2010s | 11 | 87,489 boys |
| 2020s | 11 | 89,419 boys |
Questions about the name Rigel
What does the name Rigel mean?
Rigel means “foot” in Arabic.
Is Rigel a boy or girl name?
Rigel is a boy name.
How popular is the name Rigel?
Rigel ranked #5,045 for US boys in 2025, given to 19 babies. Its best year was 2016 (#3,293).