Declining since 1990, #824 for boys today.
Popularity of Nelson since 1880
Babies named Nelson per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Nelson's real moment was 1899.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 849 |
| 1890s | 920 |
| 1900s | 1,064 |
| 1910s | 4,731 |
| 1920s | 6,927 |
| 1930s | 6,473 |
| 1940s | 7,823 |
| 1950s | 9,198 |
| 1960s | 8,562 |
| 1970s | 6,847 |
| 1980s | 7,009 |
| 1990s | 7,164 |
| 2000s | 5,877 |
| 2010s | 4,270 |
| 2020s | 1,995 |
Meaning & origin
Nelson has been in use as a given name since the 19th century, often chosen to honor the British naval hero Admiral Horatio Nelson. The name saw its peak popularity in 1899, ranking among the top names of that era. Since 1990, its usage has steadily declined, but it remains a solid, classic choice. The name is particularly common in Maryland, South Carolina, and New York, suggesting regional preferences. Today, Nelson is given to roughly 1 in every 5,694 boys, keeping it in the lower ranks of modern baby names.
Nelson is an English patronymic surname meaning "son of Neil." The given name Neil (or Niall) derives from the Gaelic name Niall, which is of debated origin but often interpreted as "champion" or "cloud." As a first name, Nelson gained popularity in the 19th century, partly due to admiration for Admiral Horatio Nelson, victor of the Battle of Trafalgar.
Where Nelson is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Nelson” around the world
Where Nelson lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
70
babies in 2024
Quebec
15
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nels
Sibling names for Nelson
Names that share Nelson's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Nelson
Names whose popularity has moved with Nelson's over the last 50 years.
