Neal

Meaning: Champion (variously glossed as cloud, passion, or victory)
Origin: Irish Gaelic

Boy's name · #1914 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Neal holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#1914 in 2025). About 55,000 boys have carried it along the way. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Neal is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 8 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Neal ranks in other countries and regions.

#868 in Netherlands (2025) · #2,859 in France (2025) · #3,109 in Canada (2024).

Famous Neals

Neal Stephenson — American science fiction writer (born 1959)
Neal McDonough — American actor
Neal Maupay — French footballer (born 1996)
Neal Cassady — American writer (1926–1968)
Neal Schon — American guitarist and composer

In stories & tradition

Neal Caffrey — White Collar (TV series)
Neal Schweiber — Freaks and Geeks (TV series)
Neal Morris — Dadnapped (TV series)

What Neals become

Among 424 notable people named Neal:

Business leaders appear 1.72× more often than among typical names — e.g. Neal Mohan, American business executive (born 1972).

Similar names: Neil · Stuart · Nick · Blair · Kenny · Dewayne

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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