Ansel

Ansel - A very unique male name

Ansel appeared on the charts for the first time in 1915 on position #1519. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ansel and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ansel? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Ansel. The baby boy name Ansel was given to 119 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1208 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 12,322 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ansel peaked in popularity 110 years ago in 1916 on position 1068.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ansel, 1-5?

Ansel is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ansel is currently topping the baby name charts in Oregon at position #536 - and is the least popular in Georgia at position #1,360.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ansel is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Ansel origin and meaning

German, short form of Anselm

From Anselm — Germanic ans, 'god', + helm, 'helmet, protection': 'protected by God'

Ansel is the streamlined form of Anselm, the name of the medieval Archbishop of Canterbury and philosopher. It has been in American use since 1915, always rare, and stands at its peak in 2025, helped by photographer Ansel Adams's enduring fame and actor Ansel Elgort's visibility.

Attested etymology

Ansel is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Ansel, pop culture references for the name Ansel and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Ansel

We've found the following names that sound similar to Ansel, sorted by popularity.

Angel / Angelo / Anselmo / Angela / Anjel / Ancil / Angelica / Angello / Angelgabriel / Anshul /

---

Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Ansel

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Ansel a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Ansel?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

---

Pronunciation

AN-sel · /ˈænsəl/

Around the world

• Anselm (German) — The full form Ansel shortens.
• Anselmo (Italian) — The Italian form of the full name.

Spellings and nicknames

• Anselm — The full name; a separate established name.

Famous bearers

• Ansel Adams — American landscape photographer of the national parks (1902–1988) Historical
• Ansel Elgort — American actor known for The Fault in Our Stars and Baby Driver (b. 1994) Contemporary

Style

ClassicInternational

Why parents choose it

Ansel is a quiet overachiever: historically deep, artistically associated, two syllables, and currently at its most used without being common.

Worth knowing

• Occasionally confused with Hansel — the fairy-tale echo is the main teasing risk.