The first name Nel
A girl’s name.
1 syllable Female
Meaning and origin
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 39 girls were named Nel, making it the 894th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2017, with 49 births (#797).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Nel with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Nel at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 6 girls born in the United States were named Nel, the 14,435th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2013, when 11 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Nel
2 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Nel van VlietDutch swimmer (1926-2006)
- Nel NoddingsAmerican philosopher (1929–2022)
Questions
- How popular is the name Nel?
- In 2025, 39 girls born in England and Wales were named Nel, ranking 894th. Its peak was 2017, with 49 births.
- Is Nel a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 133 US babies named Nel since 1880 were girls.
- When was Nel most popular?
- 2013 in the United States, when 11 babies were named Nel, its highest rank at 10,063rd.
- What name is Nel a form of?
- Nel is a form of Nell.