Tools / Baby names / N

Nelson

Boy

Meaning of Nelson: English: 'son of Neil'

Nelson is a boy's name most strongly associated with English naming. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, and it is a timeless pick that has stayed popular for over a century — 828th most popular boys' name in the United States in 2025 and 1402nd in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#828

300 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#1402

19 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

80,140

First recorded 1880 · peak 1959

Trend

stable

Style: classic

Popularity over time

1981: 646 babies1982: 664 babies1983: 630 babies1984: 660 babies1985: 706 babies1986: 723 babies1987: 717 babies1988: 767 babies1989: 864 babies1990: 936 babies19901991: 810 babies1992: 809 babies1993: 767 babies1994: 728 babies1995: 687 babies1996: 621 babies1997: 619 babies1998: 615 babies1999: 610 babies2000: 602 babies20002001: 615 babies2002: 619 babies2003: 612 babies2004: 580 babies2005: 595 babies2006: 605 babies2007: 584 babies2008: 551 babies2009: 520 babies2010: 447 babies20102011: 457 babies2012: 466 babies2013: 442 babies2014: 409 babies2015: 426 babies2016: 431 babies2017: 411 babies2018: 374 babies2019: 412 babies2020: 393 babies20202021: 358 babies2022: 320 babies2023: 317 babies2024: 323 babies2025: 300 babies
US babies named Nelson per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 936.

Gender split

100% boys · 0% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More English boys' names

Other names starting with N