Nelo
A feminine given name derived from the Greek name "Neleus", meaning "dark" or "brown".
Name Census estimates that about 15 living Americans carry the first name Nelo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Nelo today is around 12 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nelo births was 2023 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nelo. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Nelo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
15
~ 1 in 22,850,289 Americans
Peak year
2023
8 babies that year
Average age
12
years old
2023 SSA rank
#9,488
Tracked since 1935
Popularity
Nelo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nelo from the 1930s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 8 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nelo 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 Nelo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nelo
The name Nelo is believed to have its origins in ancient Greek, derived from the word "nelos," which means "new" or "fresh." This name was commonly used in various regions of Greece during the classical period, approximately from the 5th to the 4th century BCE.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Nelo can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived from around 484 to 425 BCE. In his work "The Histories," Herodotus mentions a Spartan soldier named Nelo who fought bravely during the Greco-Persian Wars.
Another notable historical figure bearing the name Nelo was a Greek philosopher and mathematician who lived in the 3rd century BCE. He is credited with making significant contributions to the field of geometry and is believed to have been a student of the renowned mathematician Euclid.
In the realm of ancient Roman history, a notable individual named Nelo was a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived during the 1st century CE. He is mentioned in several historical records for his philanthropic endeavors and contributions to the development of infrastructure in the Roman provinces.
During the Byzantine era, a prominent military commander named Nelo rose to prominence in the 6th century CE. He played a crucial role in defending the Byzantine Empire against various invaders and is celebrated for his strategic prowess and leadership on the battlefield.
In more recent times, a notable figure bearing the name Nelo was an Italian painter and sculptor who lived during the Renaissance period in the 15th century. His works, which often depicted religious themes and scenes from classical mythology, are renowned for their intricate details and skilled execution.
It is worth noting that while the name Nelo has ancient roots and a rich historical background, its usage has been relatively uncommon in modern times, particularly in Western cultures. However, it continues to be a part of the cultural heritage and linguistic diversity of various regions, particularly in parts of Greece and other areas influenced by ancient Greek civilization.
People
Nelo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nelo 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
Nelo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nelo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 15 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nelo 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 22,850,289 US residents.
Is Nelo a common name?
We classify Nelo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 35.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 19 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nelo most popular?
The single biggest year for Nelo was 2023, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nelo is about 12 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Nelo in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nelo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nelo in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Nelo still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nelo in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Nelo can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are called Nelo?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.