Nelson
Nelson is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Son of Neil or son of Nell.
Origin and history
Nelson originated as an English patronymic surname meaning 'son of Neil' or 'son of Eleanor'. It gained early prominence in the English-speaking world through Admiral Lord Nelson and later through global historical figures. In the United States, Nelson has been a steadily used traditional boys' name since the late 19th century.
Popularity in the United States
79,709 babies in the United States have been named Nelson since 1880. It ranks #366 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #730.
States where it is most popular
- NY (17.2 %)
- CA (8.3 %)
- PA (6.3 %)
- TX (5.9 %)
- OH (4.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 849 |
| 1890-1900 | 920 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,064 |
| 1910-1920 | 4,731 |
| 1920-1930 | 6,927 |
| 1930-1940 | 6,473 |
| 1940-1950 | 7,823 |
| 1950-1960 | 9,198 |
| 1960-1970 | 8,562 |
| 1970-1980 | 6,847 |
| 1980-1990 | 7,009 |
| 1990-2000 | 7,164 |
| 2000-2010 | 5,877 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,270 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,995 |
Famous people named Nelson
- Nelson Mandela: President, Activist
- Nelson Rockefeller: Vice President, Governor
- Nelson Piquet: Racing Driver
Nicknames
Nels, Nelly
Fun facts
- The name originally indicated lineage, stemming from either the Gaelic name Neil (meaning champion) or the medieval name Nell.
- One of the name's most famous namesakes, Nelson Mandela, brought worldwide recognition to the name in the 20th century.