Nigel
Nigel is a boy's name of Irish origin.
Meaning
Champion, cloud, or dark.
Origin and history
Nigel is a given name derived from the Gaelic name Niall, which was medievally Latinized as Nigellus. Though historically associated with the Latin word for black (niger), its underlying Celtic root likely means champion or cloud. In the United States, it remains a moderately rare but recognizable traditional male name.
Popularity in the United States
12,286 babies in the United States have been named Nigel since 1880. It ranks #1067 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1476.
States where it is most popular
- NY (16.7 %)
- CA (12.3 %)
- GA (7.4 %)
- FL (6.8 %)
- TX (6.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 6 |
| 1930-1940 | 12 |
| 1940-1950 | 34 |
| 1950-1960 | 171 |
| 1960-1970 | 317 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,088 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,952 |
| 1990-2000 | 3,791 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,845 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,615 |
| 2020-2029 | 455 |
Famous people named Nigel
- Nigel Barker: photographer, model
- Nigel Mansell: racing driver
Fun facts
- Medieval scribes latinized the Gaelic name Niall as Nigellus, falsely connecting it to the Latin word for black, niger.
- The name gained widespread pop culture familiarity through the 1989 hit song 'Making Plans for Nigel' by XTC and the animated series 'The Wild Thornberrys'.