Niel
Niel was the 13333rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1958, when it ranked 1552nd with 26 babies. More babies were named Niel in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Neil) from Irish Niall (meaning uncertain) · Irish
- Rank in 2025
- #13,333 boys
- Babies in 2025
- 5boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 195826 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,384babies recorded
What does the name Niel mean?
Niel is a spelling of Neil, pronounced the same way, so it shares Neil's meaning and origin.
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)
Niel popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,333 | 5 |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2010 | #10,431 | 7 |
| 2000 | #7,969 | 8 |
| 1990 | #5,688 | 9 |
| 1980 | #2,423 | 21 |
| 1970 | #3,207 | 10 |
| 1960 | #1,754 | 22 |
| 1950 | #1,599 | 22 |
| 1940 | #1,610 | 19 |
| 1930 | #1,872 | 17 |
| 1920 | #2,558 | 12 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Niel, counting every spelling?
Niel is a spelling of Neil, a name family that ranked #432 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #13,333 for Niel 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 Niel?
5 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Niel (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Niel 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 1,661 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Niel.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Niel?
About 900 people born in the US named Niel are alive today, with a median age of 52; half are between 33 and 68. That makes Niel 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.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Niel: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Niel, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Niel
What does Niel mean?
Niel is a spelling of Neil, usually explained as “from Irish Niall (meaning uncertain)”, but this is uncertain. Certainty: uncertain.
How popular is the name Niel?
Niel was the 13333rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1958, when it ranked 1552nd with 26 babies. More babies were named Niel in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Niel a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Niel in the US.