Massiel
A girl's name of Hebrew origin with 797 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Parents who choose Massiel tend to be looking for something that feels real but not common — a name with 797 recorded births and a peak of 41 in 1986, enough history to feel legitimate without being ordinary.
The resonant, angelic ending gives Massiel a crisp, modern feel that pairs easily with most surnames.
In the most recent SSA release, Massiel ranks #7106 among U.S. girl names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Massiel is a girl's baby name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from Hebrew roots or a creative Latin American coinage. The name gained extraordinary fame in the Spanish-speaking world when Dominican singer Massiel won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968 with 'La, la, la,' defeating Cliff Richard.
Massiel is used primarily in the Dominican Republic and Latin America, where the Eurovision victory gave it a proud cultural association with international achievement and Spanish-language pop history.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Massiel is a girl's name with several decades of recorded use (1970–2024). Its Hebrew roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Today, Massiel is an active part of the American naming landscape (ranked #7106), continuing to accumulate its own cultural meaning with each new child who carries it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Massiel climbed 6595 spots in the last 20 years — from #13701 to #7106.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 61 | #9384 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 85 | #11356 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 95 | #10518 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 213 | #5051 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 247 | #4059 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 96 | #6532 | — |
The Story of Massiel
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1986, Massiel is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Massiel are most likely born between 1976 and 1996.
How rare is Massiel?
Only about 1 in every 225,000 babies born in 2024 was named Massiel — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1970, peaked in the 1980s with 247 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Massiel by the numbers
- Would fill 17 school buses
- Meeting one Massiel per day would take 2.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(53 years, 1970–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16 | #7106 |
| 2023 | 15 | #7507 |
| 2022 | 13 | #8346 |
| 2021 | 6 | #14636 |
| 2020 | 11 | #9326 |
| 2019 | 7 | #13312 |
| 2018 | 13 | #8444 |
| 2017 | 10 | #10456 |
| 2016 | 11 | #9848 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12597 |
| 2014 | 8 | #12682 |
| 2013 | 11 | #10008 |
| 2012 | 8 | #13019 |
| 2011 | 9 | #11835 |
| 2009 | 10 | #11204 |
| 2008 | 11 | #10539 |
| 2007 | 11 | #10578 |
| 2006 | 10 | #11150 |
| 2005 | 8 | #12597 |
| 2004 | 7 | #13701 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Massiel a boy's or girl's name?
When was Massiel most popular?
How popular is the name Massiel?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1970–2024