Nelson

Meaning: Son of Neil
Origin: English, also Anglicized Scandinavian

Nicknames: Nellie, Nel

Boy's name · #825 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Few names move less than Nelson — on the books since 1880, #825 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 80,000 boys share it. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Nelson 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 Nelson ranks in other countries and regions.

#270 in Ecuador (2025) · #588 in Belgium (2025) · #666 in Sweden (2025) · #696 in France (2025) · #903 in Scotland (2025) · #958 in Switzerland (2025) · #1,448 in England & Wales (2025) · #823 in Canada (2024).

Famous Nelsons

Nelson Mandela — President of South Africa and anti-apartheid activist (1918–2013)
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller — Vice President of the United States from 1974 to 1977
Nelson Piquet — Brazilian racing driver (born 1952)
Nélson Semedo — Portuguese footballer (born 1993)
Nelson Piquet Jr. — Brazilian racing driver (born 1985)

As a surname

It is also an American family name — about 425,000 people carried it as a surname in the 2010 census.

Horatio Nelson — British admiral (1758–1805)
Willie Nelson — American country musician (born 1933)
Ricky Nelson — American musician, singer-songwriter, and actor

In stories & tradition

Nelson Muntz — The Simpsons (TV series)
Nelson Van Alden — Boardwalk Empire (TV series)
Nelson Lee — Fictional detective

What Nelsons become

Among 1,304 notable people named Nelson:

Sports figures appear 1.56× more often than among typical names — e.g. Nelson Piquet, Brazilian racing driver (born 1952).

Spellings & nicknames

About 500 girls a year are given Nellie as their full name.

Similar names: Byron · Nestor · Ramon · Wilson · Alonzo · Alton

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

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