Neil
Neil was the 851st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 288 babies. Its best year was 1953, when it ranked 146th; the most babies were born in 1954 (1,959). Over the last ten years it has moved down 210 places. More babies were named Neil in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning from Irish Niall (meaning uncertain) · Irish
Say it NEEL /nil/
- Rank in 2025
- #851 boys, down 100 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 288boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19541,959 babies
- Total since 1880
- 105,254babies recorded
What does the name Neil mean?
Neil is the anglicized form of the Irish name Niall, borne by Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary high king who gave his name to the Uí Néill dynasties. The meaning of Niall is uncertain: it has been connected with words for 'champion', 'cloud' and 'passion', and none is accepted. Norse settlers borrowed the name as Njáll, and the Normans brought a form of it to England, where it also produced Nigel. Astronaut Neil Armstrong is a famous bearer.
Niall (Old Irish, “personal name”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Proposed meanings ('champion', 'cloud', 'passionate') are speculative.
Other explanations you may read: Niall means 'champion'.
Related names: Niall, Neal, Neill, Nigel, Nelson.
See also: Irish names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Neil', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'Niall', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Neil popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 385 since 1916.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #851 | 288 |
| 2020 | #751 | 324 |
| 2010 | #687 | 342 |
| 2000 | #495 | 462 |
| 1990 | #261 | 1,028 |
| 1980 | #181 | 1,348 |
| 1970 | #178 | 1,567 |
| 1960 | #199 | 1,446 |
| 1950 | #156 | 1,609 |
| 1940 | #156 | 1,067 |
| 1930 | #175 | 827 |
| 1920 | #247 | 489 |
| 1910 | #343 | 54 |
| 1900 | #292 | 50 |
| 1890 | #324 | 29 |
| 1880 | #354 | 24 |
How popular is Neil, counting every spelling?
Neil is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #432 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #851 for Neil on its own. Together these spellings went to 746 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neil | 288 | #851 | 1,563 |
| Nael | 263 | #905 | 868 |
| Neal | 82 | #1,914 | 474 |
| Neel | 108 | #1,581 | 459 |
| Niel | 5 | #13,333 | 28 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Neil?
288 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Neil (0.08 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Neil born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 29 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Neil.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Neil?
About 69,400 people born in the US named Neil are alive today, with a median age of 52; half are between 38 and 67. That makes Neil mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Neil by state
How common Neil was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Washington (3.1×), Virginia (1.9×), Massachusetts (1.8×), Utah (1.7×), New Jersey (1.6×). In 21 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Neil: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Neil, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Neil · Sibling names for Neil
Neil is also a nickname for Cornelius.
Questions about the name Neil
What does Neil mean?
Neil is usually explained as “from Irish Niall (meaning uncertain)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Neil?
Neil was the 851st most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 288 babies. Its best year was 1953, when it ranked 146th; the most babies were born in 1954 (1,959). Over the last ten years it has moved down 210 places. More babies were named Neil in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Neil a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Neil in the US.
Where is Neil most popular?
In 2021–2025, Neil was most common in Washington (0.57 per 1,000 boys), followed by Delaware and Virginia.