Fun Facts About the Name Teal
- More than 1 thousand babies named Teal: U.S. records list 1,906 babies given the name Teal from 1880 through 2025. Even 302 boys received the name Teal - about 1 boy for every 5 girls.
What Does the Name Teal Mean?
Teal is an English word name taken from the name of a small freshwater duck and from the blue-green color named after the patch of feathers on that duck's wing. The bird word is recorded in Middle English as tele and is Germanic in origin; related words appear in Middle Dutch and Middle Low German, though the deeper origin of the word is uncertain. The color sense grew out of the bird itself, so the name means both the bird and the shade at once. Teal is not a shortened form or variant of another personal name; it is the English noun used as a name.
Teal Name History & Origins
The duck name is old in English, recorded from the Middle English period, and it has relatives in other Germanic languages; the color sense is a later extension, prompted by the duck's greenish-blue wing patch. Because the name comes straight from an English common noun, it has no saint's day, biblical narrative, or royal line behind it, unlike names that reached English through Latin, Greek, or Hebrew.
As a given name, Teal is modern and is used mainly in the United States, where it is given most often to girls. It sits in the group of English nature and color names, such as Hazel, Violet, and Robin, that come from ordinary words rather than from older personal names. The English surname Teal, with the variants Teale and Teel, is a separate matter: it is usually explained as a nickname taken from the bird, and it does not account for the use of Teal as a first name.
How Popular is the Name Teal?
Teal has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1994. Its best rank was #2,000 in 1961.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,308 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #6,588 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2023 | #6,381 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #5,443 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 2021 | #5,549 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2020 | #6,058 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #6,160 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2018 | #5,983 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #7,801 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2016 | #7,200 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2015 | #5,640 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2014 | #6,187 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #7,346 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #7,430 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2011 | #11,119 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #11,172 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2009 | #13,576 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #10,737 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #10,758 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #11,349 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #10,069 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #11,532 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #9,006 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #8,799 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2001 | #9,303 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #7,988 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #4,858 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1998 | #6,047 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1997 | #3,886 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1996 | #3,141 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1995 | #2,875 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 1994 | #2,100 | 66 | 0.0037% |
| 1993 | #2,449 | 52 | 0.0029% |
| 1992 | #2,347 | 56 | 0.0030% |
| 1991 | #2,109 | 64 | 0.0034% |
| 1990 | #2,256 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 1989 | #2,336 | 51 | 0.0028% |
| 1988 | #2,149 | 54 | 0.0030% |
| 1987 | #2,714 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1986 | #2,263 | 46 | 0.0027% |
| 1985 | #2,018 | 54 | 0.0031% |
| 1984 | #2,843 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1983 | #2,649 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1982 | #3,247 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1981 | #2,717 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 1980 | #3,207 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1979 | #3,530 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1978 | #5,931 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1977 | #4,917 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1976 | #7,217 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #7,088 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #4,992 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1973 | #4,832 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #6,498 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #5,493 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #5,370 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #5,019 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #3,594 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #4,590 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #4,828 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1965 | #3,142 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1964 | #2,814 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1963 | #2,948 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1962 | #2,531 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1961 | #2,000 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1960 | #2,240 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1959 | #2,587 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1958 | #2,161 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1957 | #3,291 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,760 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #7,662 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #8,188 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #9,731 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #5,747 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2020 | #8,647 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #10,682 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #5,746 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #8,756 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #8,661 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2014 | #13,835 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #8,694 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #12,048 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #10,842 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #11,423 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #9,521 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #6,438 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #4,758 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #10,094 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #4,959 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #7,317 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #8,138 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #6,351 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #5,552 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #5,689 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #8,021 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #5,872 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #5,707 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #4,915 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1983 | #7,226 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #6,169 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #4,896 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #5,969 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #6,664 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1970 | #3,050 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #4,680 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #3,886 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Teal Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You like to control everyone within your influence, to shape things to your own liking. If positive, you develop high spirituality, as you have a God's protection. You are sensitive, affectionate, imaginative and cooperative, spiritually aware and prone to self-sacrifice. You can keep secrets and are a good diplomat. You may have healing and psychic powers. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Teal's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Teal's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.