Neal Boy
Origin(s)
PronunciationNEEL / /niːl/Irish; English
Meaning
Irish: champion; English: youthful
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Neal has roots in both Irish and English cultures. In Irish, it is derived from the name Niall, which is associated with a legendary king of Ulster. The English variant is often considered a diminutive of names like Cornelius. Over time, Neal has been used in various forms across different regions.
Trend Summary
Neal has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, with a decline in usage since the mid-20th century.
Similar Names
Variants
- Neil
- Niall
International Variants
- Noé (French)
- Nilo (Spanish)
Famous people named Neal
Neal Armstrong was an American astronaut and the first person to walk on the moon.
Neal Cassady was an American writer and a key figure in the Beat Generation.
Neal Patrick Harris is an American actor known for his role in 'How I Met Your Mother.'.
Neal Shusterman is an American author recognized for his young adult novels.
Fictional characters named Neal
Neal Caffrey is a character from the TV series 'White Collar,' known for being a charming con artist.
Neal Sethi plays Mowgli in the live-action adaptation of 'The Jungle Book.'.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Neal was first seen in the United States in 1880. Neal has ranked as high as #457 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In the past 5 years the name Neal has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Neal (2024)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 6 | |
| TX | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 43 |
| 1881 | 33 |
| 1882 | 35 |
| 1883 | 29 |
| 1884 | 36 |
| 1885 | 33 |
| 1886 | 40 |
| 1887 | 37 |
| 1888 | 37 |
| 1889 | 38 |
| 1890 | 40 |
| 1891 | 35 |
| 1892 | 35 |
| 1893 | 33 |
| 1894 | 41 |
| 1895 | 38 |
| 1896 | 35 |
| 1897 | 43 |
| 1898 | 40 |
| 1899 | 33 |
| 1900 | 58 |
| 1901 | 29 |
| 1902 | 46 |
| 1903 | 49 |
| 1904 | 44 |
| 1905 | 45 |
| 1906 | 43 |
| 1907 | 48 |
| 1908 | 46 |
| 1909 | 48 |
| 1910 | 65 |
| 1911 | 63 |
| 1912 | 127 |
| 1913 | 143 |
| 1914 | 176 |
| 1915 | 228 |
| 1916 | 283 |
| 1917 | 277 |
| 1918 | 287 |
| 1919 | 294 |
| 1920 | 371 |
| 1921 | 344 |
| 1922 | 388 |
| 1923 | 410 |
| 1924 | 405 |
| 1925 | 420 |
| 1926 | 417 |
| 1927 | 384 |
| 1928 | 377 |
| 1929 | 342 |
| 1930 | 381 |
| 1931 | 372 |
| 1932 | 374 |
| 1933 | 362 |
| 1934 | 440 |
| 1935 | 415 |
| 1936 | 419 |
| 1937 | 430 |
| 1938 | 446 |
| 1939 | 444 |
| 1940 | 506 |
| 1941 | 543 |
| 1942 | 569 |
| 1943 | 535 |
| 1944 | 568 |
| 1945 | 578 |
| 1946 | 676 |
| 1947 | 730 |
| 1948 | 713 |
| 1949 | 740 |
| 1950 | 848 |
| 1951 | 955 |
| 1952 | 1,142 |
| 1953 | 967 |
| 1954 | 1,088 |
| 1955 | 1,060 |
| 1956 | 1,102 |
| 1957 | 1,192 |
| 1958 | 1,156 |
| 1959 | 1,223 |
| 1960 | 1,192 |
| 1961 | 1,122 |
| 1962 | 1,031 |
| 1963 | 1,094 |
| 1964 | 1,128 |
| 1965 | 883 |
| 1966 | 815 |
| 1967 | 741 |
| 1968 | 651 |
| 1969 | 703 |
| 1970 | 719 |
| 1971 | 600 |
| 1972 | 534 |
| 1973 | 537 |
| 1974 | 582 |
| 1975 | 648 |
| 1976 | 550 |
| 1977 | 622 |
| 1978 | 583 |
| 1979 | 636 |
| 1980 | 592 |
| 1981 | 596 |
| 1982 | 556 |
| 1983 | 573 |
| 1984 | 566 |
| 1985 | 562 |
| 1986 | 543 |
| 1987 | 456 |
| 1988 | 460 |
| 1989 | 522 |
| 1990 | 463 |
| 1991 | 444 |
| 1992 | 396 |
| 1993 | 384 |
| 1994 | 294 |
| 1995 | 258 |
| 1996 | 262 |
| 1997 | 246 |
| 1998 | 210 |
| 1999 | 186 |
| 2000 | 178 |
| 2001 | 172 |
| 2002 | 169 |
| 2003 | 129 |
| 2004 | 111 |
| 2005 | 131 |
| 2006 | 138 |
| 2007 | 116 |
| 2008 | 112 |
| 2009 | 113 |
| 2010 | 114 |
| 2011 | 97 |
| 2012 | 105 |
| 2013 | 99 |
| 2014 | 120 |
| 2015 | 152 |
| 2016 | 152 |
| 2017 | 131 |
| 2018 | 102 |
| 2019 | 118 |
| 2020 | 104 |
| 2021 | 110 |
| 2022 | 110 |
| 2023 | 95 |
| 2024 | 77 |