Is Nelson a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Nelson is commonly used as a Boy name.

How popular is Nelson?

It’s currently ranked #614 in the U.S. Recent trend: Falling.

Nelson Boy

Popularity: #614 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationNEL-sun / ˈnɛl.sən

English; Scottish

Meaning

Son of Neil; Champion

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Nelson is derived from the surname, which means 'son of Neil'. It gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries. The name is often associated with Admiral Horatio Nelson, a British naval hero known for his role in the Napoleonic Wars. Nelson has been used as both a first name and a surname, reflecting its versatility in various cultures.

Trend Summary

Nelson has seen fluctuating popularity in the United States, peaking in the early to mid-20th century.

Similar Names

Nels Neil Nico Nixon Niven Noble

Variants

Nels
Nelly

International Variants

Nélson (Portuguese)
Nélson (Spanish)

Famous people named Nelson

Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader who served as President from 1994 to 1999.

Nelson Piquet is a Brazilian former Formula One racing driver and three-time world champion.

Nelson Eddy was an American singer and actor known for his roles in musical films during the 1930s and 1940s.

Nelson Rockefeller was an American businessman and politician who served as the Governor of New York and Vice President of the United States.

Fictional characters named Nelson

Nelson Muntz is a recurring character in the animated television series 'The Simpsons', known for his role as a school bully.

Nelson is a character in the video game series 'The Legend of Zelda', appearing in various titles as a minor character.

Sibling Suggestions

Nathan Nicholas Nolan Noah Nate Nash

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Nelson was first seen in the United States in 1880. Nelson has ranked as high as #491 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in New York, California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. In the past 5 years the name Nelson has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Nelson (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
CA	43	17%
TX	40	16%
NY	20	8%
FL	19	8%
PA	15	6%
OH	13	5%
NC	12	5%
MD	11	4%
VA	11	4%
GA	10	4%
MN	9	4%
AR	8	3%
WI	8	3%
AL	6	2%
MO	6	2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	99
1881	90
1882	104
1883	79
1884	89
1885	83
1886	78
1887	62
1888	85
1889	80
1890	71
1891	86
1892	98
1893	72
1894	76
1895	108
1896	86
1897	104
1898	112
1899	107
1900	135
1901	97
1902	78
1903	93
1904	81
1905	126
1906	100
1907	129
1908	112
1909	113
1910	142
1911	180
1912	349
1913	357
1914	527
1915	606
1916	619
1917	605
1918	664
1919	682
1920	740
1921	704
1922	659
1923	704
1924	753
1925	738
1926	685
1927	673
1928	681
1929	590
1930	630
1931	607
1932	629
1933	572
1934	569
1935	578
1936	631
1937	661
1938	795
1939	801
1940	807
1941	791
1942	870
1943	794
1944	715
1945	695
1946	741
1947	814
1948	814
1949	782
1950	804
1951	803
1952	829
1953	1,012
1954	947
1955	914
1956	915
1957	942
1958	950
1959	1,083
1960	1,016
1961	950
1962	932
1963	981
1964	826
1965	815
1966	724
1967	789
1968	764
1969	764
1970	756
1971	774
1972	620
1973	580
1974	675
1975	690
1976	731
1977	670
1978	680
1979	670
1980	684
1981	640
1982	658
1983	630
1984	651
1985	706
1986	714
1987	711
1988	758
1989	856
1990	931
1991	810
1992	801
1993	761
1994	720
1995	681
1996	621
1997	619
1998	614
1999	605
2000	602
2001	615
2002	619
2003	612
2004	572
2005	594
2006	605
2007	584
2008	551
2009	519
2010	447
2011	456
2012	465
2013	442
2014	409
2015	426
2016	431
2017	411
2018	374
2019	406
2020	388
2021	358
2022	315
2023	311
2024	322