The first name Nils
A boy’s name.
1 syllable Male
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 4 boys were named Nils, making it the 4,275th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2009, with 11 births (#1,859).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Nils with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Nils at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 20 boys born in the United States were named Nils, the 4,993rd most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1970, when 48 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 Nils
45 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Nils PetersenGerman association football player, born 1988
- Nils SchumannGerman middle-distance runner, born 1978
- Nils PolittGerman cyclist, born 1994
- Nils LofgrenAmerican rock musician, born 1951
- Nils TorvaldsFinnish broadcast journalist, writer and politician, former Member of European Parliament, born 1945
- Nils EngdahlAthletics competitor (1898-1983)
- Nils MiddelboeDanish footballer (1887-1976)
- Nils SkoglundDiver (1906–1980)
- Nils SeethalerGerman cultural anthropologist, born 1981
- Nils NielsenDanish association football player and manager, born 1971
- Nils MalmrosDanish film director, born 1944
- Nils BjörklöfCanoe racer (1921–1987)
Questions
- How popular is the name Nils?
- In 2025, 4 boys born in England and Wales were named Nils, ranking 4,275th. Its peak was 2009, with 11 births.
- Is Nils a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 3,083 US babies named Nils since 1880 were boys.
- When was Nils most popular?
- 1970 in the United States, when 48 babies were named Nils, its highest rank at 1,202nd.