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Nils

Boy

Meaning of Nils: Greek: 'victory of the people'

Nils is a boy's name most strongly associated with Swedish naming. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, and it is a genuinely rare and unique choice — 4788th most popular boys' name in the United States in 2025 and 4270th in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#4788

20 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#4270

4 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

3,083

First recorded 1888 · peak 1970

Trend

stable

Style: rare

Popularity over time

1981: 24 babies1982: 24 babies1983: 27 babies1984: 26 babies1985: 32 babies1986: 32 babies1987: 23 babies1988: 24 babies1989: 26 babies1990: 36 babies19901991: 28 babies1992: 31 babies1993: 35 babies1994: 35 babies1995: 26 babies1996: 34 babies1997: 29 babies1998: 23 babies1999: 39 babies2000: 29 babies20002001: 39 babies2002: 30 babies2003: 23 babies2004: 18 babies2005: 25 babies2006: 31 babies2007: 23 babies2008: 24 babies2009: 23 babies2010: 31 babies20102011: 18 babies2012: 26 babies2013: 25 babies2014: 22 babies2015: 20 babies2016: 21 babies2017: 18 babies2018: 25 babies2019: 20 babies2020: 20 babies20202021: 14 babies2022: 15 babies2023: 24 babies2024: 20 babies2025: 20 babies
US babies named Nils per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 39.

Gender split

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

Origins & cultures

More Swedish boys' names

Other names starting with N