Nils
Nils is a boy's name of Norse origin.
Meaning
Victory of the people.
Origin and history
Nils is a Scandinavian given name derived from Nicholas, meaning 'victory of the people'. It has long been popular throughout Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. In the United States, it remains a relatively rare but recognizable traditional northern European choice.
Popularity in the United States
3,083 babies in the United States have been named Nils since 1880. It ranks #2322 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1814.
States where it is most popular
- NY (45.4 %)
- CA (38 %)
- MA (4.5 %)
- MN (4.1 %)
- NJ (3.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 7 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 6 |
| 1910-1920 | 143 |
| 1920-1930 | 195 |
| 1930-1940 | 286 |
| 1940-1950 | 272 |
| 1950-1960 | 315 |
| 1960-1970 | 353 |
| 1970-1980 | 310 |
| 1980-1990 | 276 |
| 1990-2000 | 316 |
| 2000-2010 | 265 |
| 2010-2019 | 226 |
| 2020-2029 | 113 |
Famous people named Nils
- Nils Lofgren: Musician, Songwriter
- Nils van der Poel: Speed skater, Olympic athlete
Fun facts
- Nils developed as the shortened Scandinavian vernacular form of the Greek name Nikolaos.
- The name is famous in Swedish culture through Selma Lagerlöf's classic children's novel, The Wonderful Adventures of Nils.