Nelson first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Nelson has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Nelson

English name meaning "son of the champion", from Old Norse.

Popularity of Nelson by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Nelson is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Nelson being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 310 male babies and 6 female babies born with the name Nelson.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby girls were named Nelson in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 310 6
2022 314 5
2021 356 0
2020 387 5
2019 405 5
2018 374 0
2017 411 0
2016 431 0
2015 426 0
2014 409 0
2013 442 0
2012 464 0
2011 456 0
2010 444 0
2009 519 0
2008 551 0
2007 584 0
2006 604 0
2005 594 0
2004 572 6
2003 612 0
2002 619 0
2001 615 0
2000 602 0
1999 605 5
1998 614 0
1997 619 0
1996 621 0
1995 681 6
1994 720 8
1993 761 6
1992 801 8
1991 810 0
1990 931 5
1989 856 8
1988 756 9
1987 711 5
1986 714 9
1985 706 0
1984 651 9
1983 630 0
1982 657 6
1981 640 6
1980 685 6
1979 670 6
1978 680 5
1977 669 11
1976 733 7
1975 690 5
1974 675 11

The history of the first name Nelson

The given name Nelson has its origins in the English language and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "nes" and "leah," which together mean "promontory meadow" or "meadow by the headland." The name was initially a surname that referred to someone who lived near a promontory meadow or a headland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nelson can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The book mentions a landowner named "Nelsone" in Yorkshire.

As a first name, Nelson gained popularity in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, likely influenced by the fame of Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), the renowned British naval officer who played a crucial role in the Napoleonic Wars. His victories at the Battle of the Nile in 1798 and the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 made him a national hero in Britain.

Other notable historical figures with the first name Nelson include:

  1. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), the South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and former President of South Africa, who played a pivotal role in ending racial segregation and discrimination.

  2. Nelson Rockefeller (1908-1979), an American businessman, philanthropist, and politician who served as the 41st Vice President of the United States under President Gerald Ford.

  3. Nelson Eddy (1901-1967), an American actor and singer who enjoyed a successful career in Hollywood musicals and opera during the 1930s and 1940s.

  4. Nelson Piquet (born 1952), a Brazilian former Formula One racing driver who won three World Drivers' Championship titles in 1981, 1983, and 1987.

  5. Nelson Algren (1909-1981), an American writer known for his gritty and realistic depictions of life in urban areas, particularly in his novel "The Man with the Golden Arm."

While the name Nelson has its roots in English, it has also been adopted and used in various cultures around the world, reflecting the global reach and influence of the English language.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Nelson was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nelson, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Nelson first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/nelson-meaning-and-history/.

"Nelson first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/nelson-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Nelson first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/nelson-meaning-and-history/.

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