Holding steady.
Popularity of Neill since 1912
Babies named Neill per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1950, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Neill's real moment was 1940.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 103 |
| 1920s | 164 |
| 1930s | 163 |
| 1940s | 253 |
| 1950s | 282 |
| 1960s | 193 |
| 1970s | 243 |
| 1980s | 205 |
| 1990s | 142 |
| 2000s | 46 |
| 2010s | 25 |
| 2020s | 15 |
Meaning & origin
The name Neill has been in use in the United States since at least 1912, the first year it was recorded in Social Security data. Its peak year of usage was 1940, though it has never reached the top 1000 names by rank. Neill has a stable trajectory in recent decades, with consistent but low usage. As an anglicized form of the Gaelic Niall, it remains closely tied to Irish and Scottish heritage, even as its popularity has faded relative to more common variants like Neil.
Neill is an Irish and Scottish surname turned given name, derived from the Gaelic Niall. The meaning is debated, with theories including 'champion' (from Old Irish níad) or 'cloud' (from néall). The name Niall was borne by the legendary High King Niall of the Nine Hostages, and the anglicized forms Neill and Neil gained popularity in the English-speaking world from the 19th century onward.
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Neill
Names that share Neill's style, for a brother or sister.
