NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Cadel

A masculine name of Welsh origin, likely meaning "battle ruler".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2019. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Cadel is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cadel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2019 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4702, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 5 births.

This profile covers 23 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2010 to 2019. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 23 living people in the UK are called Cadel. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2020 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Cadel ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales in 2019, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 5 boys were registered as Cadel.
  • About 23 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cadel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4702

2019

Births in 2019

3

Latest year

Peak year

2012

5 births

Estimated living

23

2026

Meaning

What does Cadel mean?

The given name Cadel is of Welsh origin, derived from the Old Welsh word "cadell," which means "battle" or "conflict." The name likely emerged during the early medieval period when the Welsh language and culture were thriving in parts of modern-day Wales and England.

Cadel was a relatively common name among the ancient Britons, particularly in regions with strong Welsh influence. In the 6th century, a Welsh prince named Cadell ap Rhodri is recorded as ruling over parts of what is now southern Wales. His name was a variation of the more modern spelling, Cadel.

In the 12th century, a Welsh cleric named Cadel is mentioned in the Brut y Tywysogion, a chronicle of the princes of Wales. This early written record provides evidence of the name's usage during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Cadel was Cadell Deyrnllwg, a 6th-century king of Powys, a Welsh kingdom located in what is now eastern Wales and the West Midlands of England. Cadell Deyrnllwg played a significant role in the battles against the Anglo-Saxons during the early stages of their invasion of Britain.

Another notable figure with the name Cadel was Cadell ap Gruffydd, a 12th-century Welsh prince who ruled over parts of Powys. He was involved in conflicts with the Norman rulers of England and is recorded in various Welsh chronicles of the time.

In the 19th century, a Welsh poet and writer named Cadell Rees (1801-1865) gained recognition for his contributions to Welsh literature. He was born in Cardiganshire, Wales, and published several works in both Welsh and English.

While the name Cadel has Welsh roots and was more prevalent in historical times, it has been used sparingly throughout history in other parts of the world, likely influenced by the Welsh diaspora or cultural connections.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Cadel over time

The chart below shows babies named Cadel registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Cadel, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2019, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Cadel
01345201020142019

Decades

Cadel by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cadel was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #4088 23 6

Related

Names similar to Cadel

FAQ

Cadel: questions and answers

How popular is the name Cadel in the UK right now?

In 2019, Cadel was ranked #4702 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Cadel most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 5 babies registered as Cadel in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Cadel?

A masculine name of Welsh origin, likely meaning "battle ruler".

How many people are called Cadel in the UK?

A total of 23 babies have been registered as Cadel across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.