Holding steady, #7,491 for girls today.
Popularity of Nelia since 1880
Babies named Nelia per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2015, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Nelia's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 82 |
| 1890s | 80 |
| 1900s | 93 |
| 1910s | 119 |
| 1920s | 133 |
| 1930s | 122 |
| 1940s | 112 |
| 1950s | 113 |
| 1960s | 87 |
| 1970s | 138 |
| 1980s | 72 |
| 1990s | 67 |
| 2000s | 108 |
| 2010s | 163 |
| 2020s | 91 |
Meaning & origin
Nelia is a rare and delicate name that has appeared in U.S. birth records since 1880, when it was first recorded. Its peak year was 1884, though even then it was uncommon. In 2025, Nelia ranked 7,491, with only about 1 in every 114,805 baby girls receiving the name, indicating a stable but very low level of use. The name's etymology is uncertain; it may have arisen as a variant of Cornelia or a feminine form of Neil, but no definitive origin has been established. Despite its obscurity, Nelia has a melodic, feminine sound that fits well with other vintage-style names like Lilia and Delia. Its rarity makes it a distinctive choice for parents seeking something uncommon without being unfamiliar.
Nelia is likely a modern English coinage, possibly a diminutive or variant of names like Cornelia or Neil. Cornelia derives from the Latin 'cornu' meaning 'horn', while Neil comes from the Irish 'Niall', meaning 'champion'. The name has been in sporadic use in the United States since the 1880s, but its exact derivation remains uncertain.
“Nelia” around the world
Where Nelia lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
205
babies in 2024
Quebec
14
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nell, Nellie, Nea
Sibling names for Nelia
Names that share Nelia's style, for a brother or sister.
