The first name Nels
A boy’s name from Norwegian.
Pronounced /nɛlz/ 1 syllable Male
Meaning and origin
Norwegian origin
Anglicization of Norwegian Nils and Swedish Nils, reflecting the pronunciation of the name among Scandinavian immigrants to North America, or matched to Nelson. Ultimately from Latin Nicolaus, from Ancient Greek Νικόλαος (Nikólaos).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Nels at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 22 boys born in the United States were named Nels, the 4,656th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1918, when 65 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 Nels
2 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Nels ClineAmerican guitarist and composer, born 1956
- Nels StewartCanadian ice hockey player (1902–1957)
Questions
- What does the name Nels mean?
- Anglicization of Norwegian Nils and Swedish Nils, reflecting the pronunciation of the name among Scandinavian immigrants to North America, or matched to Nelson. Ultimately from Latin Nicolaus, from Ancient Greek Νικόλαος (Nikólaos).
- What is the origin of the name Nels?
- Anglicization of Norwegian Nils and Swedish Nils, reflecting the pronunciation of the name among Scandinavian immigrants to North America, or matched to Nelson. Ultimately from Latin Nicolaus, from Ancient Greek Νικόλαος (Nikólaos).
- Is Nels a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 3,841 US babies named Nels since 1880 were boys.
- When was Nels most popular?
- 1918 in the United States, when 65 babies were named Nels, its highest rank at 813th.
- How do you pronounce Nels?
- Nels is /nɛlz/, one syllable.