Nélia
How to say it: nay-LYA · /ne.ˈlja/
Short form of Cornelia, from Latin meaning horn - popular in Portuguese and French regions.
Nélia was the 4,645th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 14 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1880s, its births are down about 26% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #3,903 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #4,645 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 14 |
| Share of births | 1 in 165,767 |
| Peak decade | 1880s |
| Change over 10 years | −26% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #3,903 |
| In France, 2025 | #56 among girls’ names, 270 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Nélia peaked in the 1880s and is less common today.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Neli
- Lia
- Nelly
Honouring a Nélia in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Nélia is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish.
In France: #56 for girls in 2025.
Keep exploring
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