Neil

Meaning: Champion; also linked to cloud or passion
Origin: Irish Gaelic — Most sources favor the champion interpretation

Boy's name · #851 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Neil holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#851 in 2025). About 105,000 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 Neil is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 26 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Neil ranks in other countries and regions.

#394 in Ireland (2025) · #557 in Poland (2025) · #657 in France (2025) · #739 in Sweden (2025) · #779 in Switzerland (2025) · #924 in England & Wales (2025) · #974 in Netherlands (2025) · #1,306 in Belgium (2025) · #1,346 in Ecuador (2025) · #416 in Canada (2024).

Famous Neils

Neil Armstrong — American astronaut and lunar explorer (1930–2012)
Neil Gaiman — English writer (born 1960)
Neil deGrasse Tyson — American astrophysicist and science communicator
Neil Young — Canadian singer, songwriter and filmmaker (born 1945)
Neil Patrick Harris — American actor (born 1973)

In stories & tradition

Neil Winters — The Young and the Restless (TV series)
Neil Goldman — Family Guy (TV series)
Neil Curtis — Days of Our Lives (TV series)

What Neils become

Among 2,364 notable people named Neil:

Sports figures appear 1.67× more often than among typical names — e.g. Neil Taylor, Welsh association football player (born 1989).

Similar names: Neal · Kenny · Nick · Darren · Marvin · Tyrone

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

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