Neil
How to say it: NEEL · /ˈnil/
Anglicised form of Irish Niall, possibly meaning 'champion' or 'cloud'; also influenced by Old Norse 'Njáll'.
Neil was the 572nd most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 288 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1930s, its births are down about 27% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #657 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #572 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 288 |
| Share of births | 1 in 6,935 |
| Peak decade | 1930s |
| Change over 10 years | −27% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #657 |
| In France, 2025 | #479 among boys’ names, 70 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long past its high in the 1930s, Neil has thinned considerably. It sits far below that peak and will probably continue to slip.
What goes with it
Quiet and single voiced with a soft finish, Neil feels steady and reserved. Alan shares its understated style.
Honouring a Neil in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Neil is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Irish.
In France: #479 for boys in 2025.
Ireland: #394.
Famous people named Neil
- Neil Armstrong (1930–2012)American astronaut and lunar explorer
- Neil Gaiman (born 1960)English writer
- Neil deGrasse Tyson (born 1958)American astrophysicist and science communicator
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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