Niels
Niels is a boy's name of Norse origin.
Meaning
Victory of the people.
Origin and history
Niels is a Scandinavian and Dutch form of Nicholas, derived from the Greek name Nikolaos. It has a long history of use in Northern Europe and is occasionally chosen in the United States, offering a classic European alternative to Neil or Nicholas. It remains a rare but recognizable name in American birth records.
Popularity in the United States
1,462 babies in the United States have been named Niels since 1880. It ranks #3266 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1851.
States where it is most popular
- CA (74.4 %)
- NY (20 %)
- UT (5.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 5 |
| 1900-1910 | 5 |
| 1910-1920 | 79 |
| 1920-1930 | 110 |
| 1930-1940 | 86 |
| 1940-1950 | 92 |
| 1950-1960 | 180 |
| 1960-1970 | 156 |
| 1970-1980 | 138 |
| 1980-1990 | 128 |
| 1990-2000 | 132 |
| 2000-2010 | 124 |
| 2010-2019 | 151 |
| 2020-2029 | 76 |
Famous people named Niels
- Niels Bohr: Physicist, Nobel Laureate
Fun facts
- Niels Bohr was a famous Danish physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922 for his foundational work on atomic structure.
- Niels is the Scandinavian equivalent of Nicholas, sharing the underlying Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people).