Neil Boy

Popularity: #659 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: NEEL //niːl//

Origin: Irish; English

Meaning: Irish: champion; English: cloud

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Neil has its roots in the Gaelic name Niall, which is believed to derive from the Old Irish word 'niadh', meaning 'champion' or 'cloud'. The name Niall was borne by several notable figures in Irish history, most famously Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary 5th-century king of Tara who is often credited with the early spread of Christianity in Ireland.

The name transitioned into the Anglicized form Neil during the Middle Ages, particularly as the influence of the English language grew in Ireland and Scotland, where the name was also adopted and adapted. In the 12th century, the name Neil began to appear in various forms in English records, often associated with the Gaelic nobility.

The name gained further prominence through the 17th and 18th centuries, as it was borne by several notable figures, including Neil O'Neill, a prominent Irish chieftain during the Nine Years' War in the late 16th century. The name also appears in various historical texts and translations, including the King James Bible, where it is sometimes referenced in the context of Irish heritage.

Culturally, the name Neil has been associated with strength and leadership, reflecting its etymological roots in the concept of a champion. The name has also been linked to various saints, including Saint Neil, a lesser-known figure in early Christian history.

The diminutive form 'Niall' remains significant in Irish culture, maintaining a connection to the name's Gaelic origins. Overall, Neil's historical and cultural significance is deeply intertwined with the legacy of Irish nobility and the broader narrative of Gaelic heritage.

Famous people named Neil

In this section, you will find notable people named Neil. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Neil who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Neil who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Neil Armstrong is an astronaut best known for being the first person to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission.

Neil Gaiman is an author best known for American Gods, Coraline, and The Sandman.

Neil Patrick Harris is an actor best known for How I Met Your Mother, Doogie Howser, M.D., and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Neil Young is a musician best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and his solo career.

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist best known for his work in popularizing science and hosting Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.

Neil Simon is a playwright and screenwriter best known for The Odd Couple, Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Biloxi Blues.

Neil Peart is a musician best known as the drummer and primary lyricist for the rock band Rush.

Neil Jordan is a filmmaker best known for The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire, and Michael Collins.

Neil Tennant is a musician best known as a member of the Pet Shop Boys and for hits like West End Girls and It's a Sin.

Neil LaBute is a playwright and filmmaker best known for In the Company of Men, Fat Pig, and reasons to be pretty.

Fictional characters named Neil

The following list of fictional characters named Neil is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Neil Gaiman is a fictional character from the comic book series The Sandman. He is the anthropomorphic personification of dreams and one of the Endless, playing a crucial role in the narrative's exploration of dreams and reality.

Neil Perry is a fictional character from the novel and film Dead Poets Society. He is a passionate student who struggles against his father's expectations to pursue his love for acting.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Neil, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

RyanEvanKyleSeanLiamDylan

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Neil. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

NateNolanNashNoelNicoNilesNicolette

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Neil was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Neil has ranked as high as #326 nationally, which occurred in 1954, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Neil has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Neil is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Neil was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Neil.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 288 288 0
2024 280 280 0
2023 305 305 0
2022 330 330 0
2021 360 360 0
2020 324 324 0
2019 422 422 0
2018 427 427 0
2017 422 422 0
2016 425 425 0
2015 414 414 0
2014 397 397 0
2013 394 394 0
2012 391 391 0
2011 358 358 0
2010 342 342 0
2009 396 396 0
2008 327 327 0
2007 305 305 0
2006 398 398 0
2005 380 380 0
2004 338 338 0
2003 384 384 0
2002 381 381 0
2001 443 443 0
2000 462 462 0
1999 490 490 0
1998 489 489 0
1997 526 526 0
1996 579 579 0
1995 678 678 0
1994 704 704 0
1993 784 784 0
1992 791 791 0
1991 918 918 0
1990 1,033 1,028 5
1989 1,036 1,027 9
1988 1,006 999 7
1987 1,084 1,078 6
1986 1,159 1,152 7
1985 1,217 1,206 11
1984 1,131 1,125 6
1983 1,238 1,226 12
1982 1,352 1,342 10
1981 1,343 1,330 13
1980 1,360 1,348 12
1979 1,491 1,486 5
1978 1,537 1,527 10
1977 1,434 1,429 5
1976 1,362 1,354 8
1975 1,342 1,331 11
1974 1,329 1,323 6
1973 1,303 1,297 6
1972 1,310 1,304 6
1971 1,429 1,422 7
1970 1,581 1,567 14
1969 1,691 1,680 11
1968 1,054 1,049 5
1967 1,155 1,155 0
1966 1,227 1,227 0
1965 1,321 1,321 0
1964 1,533 1,527 6
1963 1,448 1,448 0
1962 1,291 1,291 0
1961 1,524 1,524 0
1960 1,446 1,446 0
1959 1,637 1,632 5
1958 1,718 1,711 7
1957 1,684 1,676 8
1956 1,752 1,747 5
1955 1,790 1,785 5
1954 1,964 1,959 5
1953 1,946 1,937 9
1952 1,911 1,904 7
1951 1,762 1,755 7
1950 1,609 1,609 0
1949 1,471 1,471 0
1948 1,413 1,406 7
1947 1,460 1,460 0
1946 1,343 1,343 0
1945 1,215 1,210 5
1944 1,140 1,140 0
1943 1,155 1,155 0
1942 1,106 1,101 5
1941 1,074 1,074 0
1940 1,067 1,067 0
1939 1,076 1,068 8
1938 1,066 1,066 0
1937 975 969 6
1936 913 913 0
1935 858 858 0
1934 960 953 7
1933 1,005 997 8
1932 940 934 6
1931 887 881 6
1930 834 827 7
1929 703 696 7
1928 702 696 6
1927 609 609 0
1926 607 600 7
1925 568 563 5
1924 547 541 6
1923 508 508 0
1922 495 489 6
1921 503 497 6
1920 497 489 8
1919 366 366 0
1918 367 359 8
1917 356 356 0
1916 380 375 5
1915 289 289 0
1914 232 232 0
1913 184 184 0
1912 151 151 0
1911 58 58 0
1910 54 54 0
1909 43 43 0
1908 55 55 0
1907 42 42 0
1906 37 37 0
1905 42 42 0
1904 41 41 0
1903 28 28 0
1902 28 28 0
1901 32 32 0
1900 50 50 0
1899 26 26 0
1898 35 35 0
1897 26 26 0
1896 47 47 0
1895 31 31 0
1894 30 30 0
1893 28 28 0
1892 36 36 0
1891 25 25 0
1890 29 29 0
1889 28 28 0
1888 23 23 0
1887 21 21 0
1886 24 24 0
1885 26 26 0
1884 23 23 0
1883 23 23 0
1882 19 19 0
1881 6 6 0
1880 24 24 0

Top States for Neil (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 56
25%
TX 28
12%
WA 19
8%
NJ 15
7%
MA 12
5%
VA 10
4%
NY 10
4%
OH 10
4%
IL 10
4%
NC 8
4%
FL 8
4%
GA 8
4%
PA 8
4%
MN 7
3%
TN 7
3%
MI 6
3%
UT 6
3%