Nelson Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Nelson is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Nelson?
Nelson is spelled N-E-L-S-O-N. The name has 6 letters.
Nelson at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Nelson means “son of Neil” or “son of Nell,” reflecting its origin as an English patronymic surname.
- Origin
- Nelson is a given name derived from an English patronymic surname, commonly used in English-speaking countries.
- Pronunciation
- NEL-suhn · 2 syllables
Nelson Popularity in 2025
Rank#824
Recorded Births300
- Boys usage fell 47 places to #824 and recorded 23 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Nelson Mean?
Nelson means “son of Neil” or “son of Nell,” reflecting its origin as an English patronymic surname.
Origin: Nelson is a given name derived from an English patronymic surname, commonly used in English-speaking countries.
How Do You Pronounce Nelson?
PronunciationNEL-suhn
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Nelson?
- History
- Nelson was historically used as a surname before becoming a given name and is associated with notable individuals bearing the surname.
Nelson Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2006 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 300 | #824 |
| 2024 | Boys | 323 | #777 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6 | #13,462 |
| 2023 | Boys | 311 | #797 |
| 2022 | Girls | 5 | #15,306 |
| 2022 | Boys | 315 | #797 |
| 2021 | Boys | 358 | #722 |
| 2020 | Girls | 5 | #15,088 |
| 2020 | Boys | 388 | #670 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5 | #15,539 |
| 2019 | Boys | 407 | #654 |
| 2018 | Boys | 374 | #671 |
| 2017 | Boys | 411 | #631 |
| 2016 | Boys | 431 | #621 |
| 2015 | Boys | 426 | #626 |
| 2014 | Boys | 409 | #645 |
| 2013 | Boys | 442 | #581 |
| 2012 | Boys | 466 | #558 |
| 2011 | Boys | 457 | #556 |
| 2010 | Boys | 447 | #568 |
| 2009 | Boys | 520 | #519 |
| 2008 | Boys | 551 | #497 |
| 2007 | Boys | 584 | #467 |
| 2006 | Boys | 605 | #448 |
When Was Nelson Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1959 · Boys
1,084 recorded births
National rank #244
1960 · Boys
1,016 recorded births
National rank #250
1953 · Boys
1,012 recorded births
National rank #214
1963 · Boys
982 recorded births
National rank #246
Where Nelson Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MD | #437 | 11 |
| SC | #501 | 9 |
| NY | #513 | 31 |
| AL | #622 | 7 |
| VA | #627 | 11 |
| LA | #672 | 6 |
| AZ | #720 | 8 |
| FL | #729 | 21 |