gender neutral
Nelson
son of Neil, champion's son
About Nelson
Dignified and substantial, Nelson presents a name with considerable gravitas and historical resonance. This choice suggests parents who value tradition while maintaining a sense of individuality, as Nelson manages to feel established without being overused. The name carries an air of respectability and competence, qualities that serve well throughout life's various chapters. Nelson works particularly well for families seeking a name that bridges generations, honoring the past while remaining perfectly suitable for contemporary life. Its strong consonants and smooth flow create a satisfying sound that commands respect without formality. The nickname possibilities add versatility, though many parents find the full name too handsome to shorten.
Popularity of the Name Nelson
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #138 | ||||
| 1881 | #138 | ||||
| 1882 | #136 | ||||
| 1883 | #161 | ||||
| 1884 | #154 | ||||
| 1885 | #160 | ||||
| 1886 | #176 | ||||
| 1887 | #195 | ||||
| 1888 | #175 | ||||
| 1889 | #170 | ||||
| 1890 | #191 | ||||
| 1891 | #155 | ||||
| 1892 | #161 | ||||
| 1893 | #200 | ||||
| 1894 | #196 | ||||
| 1895 | #143 | ||||
| 1896 | #191 | ||||
| 1897 | #150 | ||||
| 1898 | #153 | ||||
| 1899 | #147 | ||||
| 1900 | #154 | #100 | |||
| 1901 | #159 | ||||
| 1902 | #202 | #112 | |||
| 1903 | #179 | ||||
| 1904 | #204 | #124 | |||
| 1905 | #160 | #79 | |||
| 1906 | #182 | #87 | |||
| 1907 | #168 | #121 | |||
| 1908 | #189 | #124 | |||
| 1909 | #194 | #119 | |||
| 1910 | #189 | ||||
| 1911 | #175 | #105 | |||
| 1912 | #166 | #138 | |||
| 1913 | #188 | #103 | |||
| 1914 | #171 | #131 | |||
| 1915 | #184 | #133 | |||
| 1916 | #188 | #147 | |||
| 1917 | #194 | #127 | |||
| 1918 | #190 | #115 | |||
| 1919 | #187 | #123 | |||
| 1920 | #187 | #147 | |||
| 1921 | #194 | #114 | |||
| 1922 | #201 | #142 | |||
| 1923 | #195 | #153 | |||
| 1924 | #188 | ||||
| 1925 | #186 | #137 | |||
| 1926 | #202 | #153 | |||
| 1927 | #206 | ||||
| 1928 | #201 | #136 | |||
| 1929 | #215 | ||||
| 1930 | #209 | #144 | |||
| 1931 | #209 | ||||
| 1932 | #204 | ||||
| 1933 | #205 | ||||
| 1934 | #214 | ||||
| 1935 | #209 | #124 | |||
| 1936 | #195 | ||||
| 1937 | #194 | ||||
| 1938 | #182 | #148 | |||
| 1939 | #178 | #155 | |||
| 1940 | #182 | #151 | |||
| 1941 | #186 | #169 | |||
| 1942 | #181 | #169 | |||
| 1943 | #203 | #177 | |||
| 1944 | #207 | ||||
| 1945 | #206 | #167 | |||
| 1946 | #222 | #173 | |||
| 1947 | #224 | #199 | |||
| 1948 | #227 | ||||
| 1949 | #232 | ||||
| 1950 | #229 | ||||
| 1951 | #240 | #192 | |||
| 1952 | #232 | #206 | |||
| 1953 | #214 | ||||
| 1954 | #228 | ||||
| 1955 | #235 | ||||
| 1956 | #241 | ||||
| 1957 | #250 | ||||
| 1958 | #254 | ||||
| 1959 | #244 | ||||
| 1960 | #250 | ||||
| 1961 | #254 | ||||
| 1962 | #253 | ||||
| 1963 | #246 | ||||
| 1964 | #268 | ||||
| 1965 | #259 | ||||
| 1966 | #274 | ||||
| 1967 | #255 | ||||
| 1968 | #261 | ||||
| 1969 | #270 | ||||
| 1970 | #279 | ||||
| 1971 | #273 | ||||
| 1972 | #300 | #301 | |||
| 1973 | #303 | ||||
| 1974 | #278 | #297 | |||
| 1975 | #277 | ||||
| 1976 | #266 | ||||
| 1977 | #292 | ||||
| 1978 | #285 | ||||
| 1979 | #297 | ||||
| 1980 | #297 | #297 | |||
| 1981 | #302 | ||||
| 1982 | #302 | ||||
| 1983 | #312 | ||||
| 1984 | #303 | ||||
| 1985 | #290 | ||||
| 1986 | #293 | ||||
| 1987 | #302 | ||||
| 1988 | #301 | ||||
| 1989 | #287 | ||||
| 1990 | #279 | #324 | |||
| 1991 | #318 | #353 | #291 | ||
| 1992 | #319 | #309 | |||
| 1993 | #333 | #291 | |||
| 1994 | #342 | #359 | #366 | ||
| 1995 | #356 | #294 | |||
| 1996 | #377 | #286 | #343 | ||
| 1997 | #387 | #642 | #306 | #373 | |
| 1998 | #397 | #955 | #255 | #359 | |
| 1999 | #402 | #319 | #387 | ||
| 2000 | #414 | #961 | #429 | ||
| 2001 | #407 | #985 | #462 | ||
| 2002 | #409 | #423 | |||
| 2003 | #422 | #352 | #406 | #421 | |
| 2004 | #450 | #424 | #550 | ||
| 2005 | #441 | #624 | #475 | ||
| 2006 | #448 | #567 | #531 | ||
| 2007 | #467 | #766 | |||
| 2008 | #498 | #868 | #666 | #666 | |
| 2009 | #520 | #973 | #721 | ||
| 2010 | #569 | #642 | |||
| 2011 | #556 | #901 | #873 | #586 | |
| 2012 | #558 | #807 | #552 | ||
| 2013 | #581 | #954 | #827 | #538 | |
| 2014 | #645 | #860 | #531 | ||
| 2015 | #627 | #698 | |||
| 2016 | #622 | #865 | #604 | ||
| 2017 | #632 | #808 | #494 | ||
| 2018 | #672 | #982 | #752 | ||
| 2019 | #654 | #927 | #591 | ||
| 2020 | #670 | #770 | |||
| 2021 | #722 | #707 | |||
| 2022 | #799 | #707 | |||
| 2023 | #798 | #639 | |||
| 2024 | #778 | #814 | |||
| 2025 | #825 | #875 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Nelson
- Nelsen
- Nilsen
- Nilson
- Nielson
Names Similar to Nelson
Nicknames for Nelson
- Nel
- Nels
- Sonny
Famous People Named Nelson
| Nelson Mandela | South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader |
| Nelson Rockefeller | American businessman and politician |
| Nelson Eddy | American singer and actor |
| Nelson Piquet | Brazilian Formula One racing driver |
| Nelson Algren | American writer |
| Nelson Agholor | American football player |
| Nelson Freire | Brazilian pianist |
| Nelson DeMille | American author |
| Nelson Riddle | American composer and bandleader |
| Nelson Cruz | Dominican-American baseball player |
| Nelson Wolff | American politician |
| Nelson Woss | Australian film producer |
| Nelson Rodrigues | Brazilian playwright |
| Nelson A. Miles | American military general |
| Nelson Frazier Jr. | American professional wrestler |
| Nelson Ellis | American actor |
| Nelson Faria | Brazilian guitarist |
| Nelson Ascencio | American actor and comedian |
| Nelson Merentes | Venezuelan economist and politician |
Characters Named Nelson
| Nelson Muntz | Character from "The Simpsons" |
| Nelson Van Alden | Character from "Boardwalk Empire" |
| Nelson "Big Head" Bighetti | Character from "Silicon Valley" |
| Nelson "Mr. M" Muntz | Character from "South Park" |
| Nelson Hodge | Character from "Pretty Little Liars" |
| Nelson Tethers | Character from "Puzzle Agent" video game series |
| Nelson Nash | Character from "Archer" |
| Nelson Langston | Character from "CSI - Crime Scene Investigation" |
| Nelson Gardner | Character from "Watchmen" graphic novel |
| Nelson "Nels" Coxman | Character from "Cold Pursuit" film |
| Nelson Clay | Character from "Grand Theft Auto V" video game |
| Nelson Bighetti | Character from "Big Mouth" animated series |
| Nelson Gabriel | Character from "Brazil Avenue" telenovela |
| Nelson Cheng | Character from "Jane the Virgin" TV series |
| Nelson Burkhard | Character from "The Office" |