Nils Boy
Origin(s)
PronunciationNILS / nɪlsScandinavian; Germanic
Meaning
Victory of the people (Germanic); Champion (Scandinavian)
Historical & Cultural Background
Nils is a Scandinavian variant of the name Nicholas, which has Greek origins. It has been commonly used in Sweden and Norway. The name gained popularity in the 20th century and is often associated with cultural figures in Nordic countries.
Trend Summary
Nils has seen a steady presence in Scandinavian countries, with occasional popularity in other regions.
Similar Names
Variants
- Niel
- Niels
International Variants
- Nicolás (Spanish)
- Nicolas (French)
- Niels (Danish)
Famous people named Nils
Nils Bohr was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum theory.
Nils Lofgren is an American musician known for his work with Bruce Springsteen and as a member of the E Street Band.
Nils Frahm is a German composer and musician recognized for his innovative approach to contemporary classical music.
Nils Holgersson is a fictional character from the Swedish novel 'The Wonderful Adventures of Nils' by Selma Lagerlöf.
Fictional characters named Nils
Nils Holgersson is the main character in 'The Wonderful Adventures of Nils,' who travels with wild geese across Sweden.
Nils is a character in the animated series 'Nils Holgersson,' based on the aforementioned novel.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Nils was first seen in the United States in 1888. Nils has ranked as high as #1075 nationally, which occurred in 1970, and has been most popular in New York, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Jersey. In the past 5 years the name Nils has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Nils (2017)
State | Births | Share |
---|---|---|
MN | 7 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
Year | Births |
---|---|
1888 | 7 |
1907 | 6 |
1912 | 10 |
1913 | 13 |
1914 | 16 |
1915 | 23 |
1916 | 22 |
1917 | 21 |
1918 | 18 |
1919 | 20 |
1920 | 18 |
1921 | 20 |
1922 | 14 |
1923 | 13 |
1924 | 23 |
1925 | 17 |
1926 | 20 |
1927 | 13 |
1928 | 26 |
1929 | 31 |
1930 | 25 |
1931 | 26 |
1932 | 33 |
1933 | 31 |
1934 | 40 |
1935 | 27 |
1936 | 26 |
1937 | 25 |
1938 | 31 |
1939 | 22 |
1940 | 28 |
1941 | 25 |
1942 | 27 |
1943 | 16 |
1944 | 31 |
1945 | 23 |
1946 | 28 |
1947 | 25 |
1948 | 37 |
1949 | 32 |
1950 | 35 |
1951 | 18 |
1952 | 33 |
1953 | 27 |
1954 | 42 |
1955 | 34 |
1956 | 32 |
1957 | 36 |
1958 | 29 |
1959 | 30 |
1960 | 29 |
1961 | 36 |
1962 | 36 |
1963 | 39 |
1964 | 33 |
1965 | 31 |
1966 | 44 |
1967 | 30 |
1968 | 32 |
1969 | 41 |
1970 | 48 |
1971 | 34 |
1972 | 25 |
1973 | 23 |
1974 | 32 |
1975 | 30 |
1976 | 26 |
1977 | 23 |
1978 | 31 |
1979 | 38 |
1980 | 38 |
1981 | 24 |
1982 | 24 |
1983 | 27 |
1984 | 26 |
1985 | 32 |
1986 | 32 |
1987 | 23 |
1988 | 24 |
1989 | 26 |
1990 | 35 |
1991 | 28 |
1992 | 31 |
1993 | 35 |
1994 | 35 |
1995 | 26 |
1996 | 34 |
1997 | 29 |
1998 | 23 |
1999 | 39 |
2000 | 29 |
2001 | 39 |
2002 | 30 |
2003 | 23 |
2004 | 18 |
2005 | 25 |
2006 | 31 |
2007 | 23 |
2008 | 24 |
2009 | 23 |
2010 | 31 |
2011 | 18 |
2012 | 26 |
2013 | 25 |
2014 | 22 |
2015 | 20 |
2016 | 21 |
2017 | 18 |
2018 | 25 |
2019 | 20 |
2020 | 20 |
2021 | 14 |
2022 | 15 |
2023 | 24 |
2024 | 20 |