Nils
Nils was the 4993rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 20 babies. Its best year was 1888, when it ranked 889th; the most babies were born in 1970 (48). Over the last ten years it has moved down 152 places. More babies were named Nils in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #4,993 boys, down 181 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 20boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 197048 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,083babies recorded
Nils popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,993 | 20 |
| 2020 | #4,812 | 20 |
| 2010 | #3,510 | 31 |
| 2000 | #3,052 | 29 |
| 1990 | #2,071 | 36 |
| 1980 | #1,584 | 38 |
| 1970 | #1,202 | 48 |
| 1960 | #1,475 | 30 |
| 1950 | #1,229 | 35 |
| 1940 | #1,283 | 28 |
| 1930 | #1,488 | 25 |
| 1920 | #1,940 | 18 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Nils, counting every spelling?
Nils has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Nils?
20 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Nils (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Nils 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 423 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Nils.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Nils?
About 2,100 people born in the US named Nils are alive today, with a median age of 42; half are between 24 and 61. That makes Nils 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 Nils: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nils, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Nils
How popular is the name Nils?
Nils was the 4993rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 20 babies. Its best year was 1888, when it ranked 889th; the most babies were born in 1970 (48). Over the last ten years it has moved down 152 places. More babies were named Nils in the 1960s than in any other decade.
Is Nils a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Nils in the US.