Names That Mean Neil

Nelson is a rather stiff and dated surname name that is sometimes used to honor distinguished South African activist Nelson Mandela, as Celine Dion did for one of her twin boys. Other notable associations are with the British Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, novelist Nelson Algren and movie operetta star Nelson Eddy.  It was also the given name of "Rabbit" Angstrom, protagonist of John Updike's series of novels.
<br/><br/>Nelson's highest popularity was in the 1930s and forties, when it was in the Top 200.

Nelson

Perfect name for TV Frasier's effete brother. In the 2020 film <em>Palm Springs</em>, Andy Samberg plays a character with the updated spelling Nyles.

Niles

Nelson on a boy is a steady, somewhat formal classic. On a girl, it's fresher, less expected, and could be shortened to Nell or Nellie.

A playful compound name mixing two vintage nicknames, Nelsie feels at once totally retro but also very contemporary. It could also work as a feminine twist on Nelson, making it a possibility for those wanting to honor a Neil or a Niall too. 

Names That Mean Neil

The names

Nelson

Niles

Nelson

Nelsie