Nels
Nels was the 4656th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 22 babies. Its best year was 1884, when it ranked 309th; the most babies were born in 1918 (65). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,556 places. More babies were named Nels in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #4,656 boys, up 969 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 22boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 191865 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,841babies recorded
Nels popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,656 | 22 |
| 2020 | #5,625 | 16 |
| 2010 | #5,407 | 17 |
| 2000 | #5,242 | 14 |
| 1990 | #2,841 | 23 |
| 1980 | #1,464 | 43 |
| 1970 | #1,601 | 29 |
| 1960 | #1,288 | 38 |
| 1950 | #1,058 | 45 |
| 1940 | #1,123 | 35 |
| 1930 | #1,451 | 26 |
| 1920 | #1,061 | 44 |
| 1910 | #1,024 | 11 |
| 1900 | #1,021 | 8 |
| 1890 | #503 | 15 |
| 1880 | #553 | 12 |
How popular is Nels, counting every spelling?
Nels has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Nels?
22 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Nels (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Nels 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 381 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Nels.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Nels?
About 1,800 people born in the US named Nels are alive today, with a median age of 52; half are between 33 and 68. That makes Nels mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
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.
Nels by state
How common Nels was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Minnesota (20.2×). In 50 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 Nels: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nels, they share its era and feel.
Nels is also a nickname for Nelson.
Questions about the name Nels
How popular is the name Nels?
Nels was the 4656th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 22 babies. Its best year was 1884, when it ranked 309th; the most babies were born in 1918 (65). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,556 places. More babies were named Nels in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Nels a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Nels in the US.
Where is Nels most popular?
In 2021–2025, Nels was most common in Minnesota (0.24 per 1,000 boys).