Meaning & origin
What it means
As a French surname, it goes back to a word meaning “rebel.”
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Where it comes from
As a French surname, it comes from Old French reveau.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Revel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 519
- 366 boys · 153 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 46 babies
- 2025
- 41
- #4,223 for boys · #7,073 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +57%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 25 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 4,223 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 55.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 16 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 325 as a first name in 2020; 720 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Revel’s family of names
In English usage, Revel as a surname has a related form in REVELL.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Revel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Rebel
“an outlaw”
35% boys · 65% girls
Renn
Renn is a surname.
38% boys · 62% girls
Renny
“one who has been reborn” · “one who is helpful; generous”
42% boys · 58% girls
Roe
“one who hunts deer”
46% boys · 54% girls
Rogue
Rogue is a surname.
36% boys · 64% girls
Reason
Reason is a surname.
74% boys · 26% girls
Rein
Rein is a surname with more than one origin. It is used in English and Estonian.
49% boys · 51% girls
Elis
“Jehovah is my God”
46% boys · 54% girls