Find out how popular the first name Neville has been for the last 49 years (from 1974 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Neville by gender

Based on the last 49 years of data, Neville is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 11 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Neville.

The history of the first name Neville

The name Neville is of Norman French origin, deriving from the Old French words "neuf" meaning "new" and "ville" meaning "town." It was a locational surname initially given to someone who hailed from a new or newly established town or village. The name likely emerged in the 11th century during the Norman conquest of England when many French names and vocabulary were introduced to the region.

As a given name, Neville has been in use since at least the 12th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is Neville of Raby, a prominent English baron who lived from around 1163 to 1244. He was a powerful landowner and nobleman in northern England during the reigns of King John and Henry III.

Another noteworthy historical figure with the name Neville was Neville Cardigan (1543-1631), an English courtier and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He was known for his role in the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, which aimed to assassinate King James I and blow up the Houses of Parliament.

In the realm of literature, Neville Shute (1899-1960) was a renowned English novelist and aeronautical engineer. He wrote several popular novels, including "A Town Like Alice" and "On the Beach," which explored themes of adventure, romance, and the aftermath of nuclear war.

Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940) was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 to 1940. He is best known for his policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany in the lead-up to World War II, which ultimately failed to prevent the conflict.

In more recent times, Neville Longbottom is a prominent character in the Harry Potter book and film series by J.K. Rowling. He is a fellow student and close friend of the protagonist, Harry Potter, and plays a crucial role in the battle against Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

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 Neville was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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