Nelia
A feminine name derived from the Latin "nellus" meaning bright, shining.
Name Census estimates that about 828 living Americans carry the first name Nelia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nelia today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nelia births was 2015 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nelia. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
828
~ 1 in 413,955 Americans
Peak year
2015
24 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,309
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Nelia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nelia from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 15 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 163 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Nelia remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nelia by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Nelia during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nelias live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. California, Texas, Massachusetts recorded the most babies named Nelia, while North Carolina, Louisiana, Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 11 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nelia
The name Nelia is thought to have originated from the Latin name Cornelia, which itself is derived from the Roman family name Cornelius. Cornelia was a prominent name among Roman nobility, with roots dating back to the 6th century BC. The earliest recorded spelling of Nelia can be traced back to medieval Italy, where it was likely a diminutive or nickname form of Cornelia.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Nelia was Nelia Caecilia Metella, a Roman noblewoman who lived in the 1st century BC. She was the wife of Marcus Licinius Crassus, a wealthy Roman politician and military commander. Records indicate that Nelia came from a wealthy and influential family, which may have contributed to the name's association with nobility and prestige.
During the Middle Ages, the name Nelia gained popularity among Italian noble families, particularly in regions like Tuscany and Umbria. Several historical figures bore the name, including Nelia dei Conti di Segni, a 13th-century Italian noblewoman from the powerful Conti di Segni family.
In the 16th century, Nelia Brocadelli, an Italian Renaissance poet and writer from Ferrara, became one of the most notable bearers of the name. Her works, which explored themes of love and spirituality, were widely acclaimed during her lifetime and contributed to the literary legacy of the name.
Another noteworthy figure was Nelia Donnini, a 17th-century Italian painter from Florence. She was part of the Florentine Renaissance art movement and specialized in religious and mythological paintings, many of which can still be found in various churches and galleries throughout Italy.
In the 18th century, Nelia Negretti Morosini, an Italian noblewoman and philanthropist from Venice, became known for her charitable works and support for the arts. She was a patron of numerous artists and writers, and her name was associated with cultural and intellectual pursuits during that time.
While the name Nelia has its roots in ancient Rome and medieval Italy, it has been used across various cultures and regions over the centuries, albeit with varying levels of popularity. The name's enduring legacy and historical significance stem from its association with nobility, literature, and the arts, making it a unique and intriguing choice for those seeking a name with a rich cultural heritage.
People
Nelia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nelia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nelia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nelia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 828 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nelia going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 413,955 US residents.
Is Nelia a common name?
We classify Nelia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 88.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,566 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nelia most popular?
The single biggest year for Nelia was 2015, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nelia is about 39 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nelia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nelia in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.