Kunal

A boy's name of Sanskrit origin with 1,253 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

Kunala (a prince of the Mauryan Empire)

Kunal is a boy's baby name of Sanskrit origin, from the name of the Indian bird Kunala (the Indian cuckoo), and also the name of Prince Kunala, son of the Emperor Ashoka — making it a name with both natural and royal associations.

Kunal is widely used across India and among South Asian communities worldwide. The name carries the cultural richness of ancient Indian history through its connection to the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka's son — a prince celebrated for his beauty — as well as the melodic song of the bird it is named after.

EtymologyShow more

Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Kunal is rooted in the Sanskrit tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1977 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.

Kunal’s 1,253 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.

At a Glance

Unranked

Current Rank

1,253

Total births

Since 1977

1994

Peak year

60 births

Compare Kunal with another name

Popularity Over Time

Kunal has 44+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1977.

First appeared: 1977Peak: 1994 (60 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Kunal
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	18	#11688	▼
2010s	92	#9058	▼
2000s	324	#3365	▼
1990s	454	#1957	▲
1980s	351	#1824	▲
1970s	14	#5206	—

The Story of Kunal

A Millennial name

Peaking in 1994, Kunal is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Kunal are most likely born between 1984 and 2004.

How rare is Kunal?

With 1,253 total births on record, Kunal remains a rare and distinctive pick.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1977, peaked in the 1990s with 454 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Kunal by the numbers

Would fill 26 school buses
Meeting one Kunal per day would take 3.4 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(44 years, 1977–2022)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Kunal
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2022	6	#11675	+1 (20.0%)
2021	5	#13239	-2 (-28.6%)
2020	7	#10150	+2 (40.0%)
2019	5	#13252	-3 (-37.5%)
2018	8	#9282	+2 (33.3%)
2017	6	#11570	0
2016	6	#11550	-4 (-40.0%)
2015	10	#7807	-1 (-9.1%)
2014	11	#7333	+3 (37.5%)
2013	8	#9291	-7 (-46.7%)
2012	15	#5870	+1 (7.1%)
2011	14	#6123	+5 (55.6%)
2010	9	#8504	-21 (-70.0%)
2009	30	#3603	+13 (76.5%)
2008	17	#5388	-2 (-10.5%)
2007	19	#4913	-9 (-32.1%)
2006	28	#3653	-2 (-6.7%)
2005	30	#3355	-7 (-18.9%)
2004	37	#2821	+3 (8.8%)
2003	34	#2893	-3 (-8.1%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kunal a boy's or girl's name?

Kunal is primarily a boy's name.

When was Kunal most popular?

Kunal reached its peak popularity in 1994 with 60 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Kunal?

Kunal is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 1,253 babies in the U.S. since 1977. Its peak was in 1994.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1977–2022