NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Excel

A name derived from the Latin word "excellere", meaning to surpass or excel.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 16 girls.

Excel is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Excel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 4 births.

This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2010 to 2024. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Excel. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Excel ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2018, when 4 boys were registered as Excel.
  • Excel is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Excel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 55.6% of Excel registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2018

4 births

Estimated living

20

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Excel

In England and Wales birth records, Excel has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 55.6% of registrations are for boys and 44.4% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

56% boys
44% girls
Boys20 (55.6%)Girls16 (44.4%)

Excel registered for boys

  • Ranked #5,119 in 2024
  • 3 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2018 (4 births)

Excel registered for girls

  • Ranked #5,687 in 2023
  • 3 girls registered in 2023
  • Peak: 2007 (4 births)

Meaning

What does Excel mean?

The given name Excel is a modern invention that gained popularity in the late 20th century. It does not have deep linguistic roots or historical significance in any particular culture or language. The name is likely derived from the English word "excel," which means to surpass or outdo others in some achievement or quality.

Despite its recent origins, the name Excel has been embraced by some parents who seek to instill a sense of ambition and drive for excellence in their children. The earliest recorded use of Excel as a first name is believed to be in the late 1970s or early 1980s, coinciding with the rise of personal computing and the release of Microsoft's spreadsheet software, Excel.

One of the earliest notable individuals named Excel was Excel Buchanan, an American football player who played as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) from 1998 to 2004. He was born in 1976 and played for teams such as the New York Giants and the Oakland Raiders.

Another individual named Excel is Excel Naidoo, a South African-born actress and model who has appeared in several television series and films. She was born in 1985 and is known for her roles in productions like "Zone 14" and "Keeping Score."

In the world of sports, there is also Excel Mukuamu, a football player from South Africa who currently plays as a safety for the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL. He was born in 1998 and played college football at the University of South Carolina before being drafted in 2022.

A notable figure in the business world with the name Excel is Excel Dyquiangco, a Filipino entrepreneur and co-founder of the e-commerce platform BeautyMNL. She was born in 1984 and has been recognized for her contributions to the Philippines' startup ecosystem.

While not a common name, Excel has gained some recognition in various fields, perhaps reflecting a desire for achievement and success. However, its historical roots and cultural significance remain limited, as it is a relatively modern name without deep etymological origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Excel over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Excel in England and Wales, from 2007 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Excel, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
01234200720152024

Decades

Excel by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Excel 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
2020s #4633 10 3
2010s #4483 10 3

Related

Names similar to Excel

FAQ

Excel: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Excel was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Excel most popular?

The peak year on record was 2018, with 4 babies registered as Excel in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Excel?

A name derived from the Latin word "excellere", meaning to surpass or excel.

How many people are called Excel in the UK?

A total of 20 babies have been registered as Excel 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.