The name Niels is a Danish and Norwegian form of the name Nicholas, which has its origins in the Greek name Nikolaos. Nikolaos is derived from the words "niko" meaning "victory" and "laos" meaning "people." The name Niels is thought to have emerged around the 13th century in Scandinavia.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Niels can be found in the 14th century Danish chronicle Rydårbogen, which mentions a man named Niels Bugge. Additionally, the name appears in various medieval Nordic texts and records.

In terms of historical figures bearing the name Niels, one notable example is Niels Stensen (1638-1686), a Danish scientist and geologist who made significant contributions to the study of anatomy and paleontology. Another prominent individual was Niels Bohr (1885-1962), a Danish physicist who received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922 for his work on atomic structure and quantum theory.

Niels Henrik Abel (1802-1829) was a Norwegian mathematician who made groundbreaking contributions to the fields of algebra and calculus, despite his tragically short life. His work laid the foundations for modern algebraic geometry.

In the world of exploration, Niels Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld (1832-1901) was a Finnish-Swedish explorer and scientist who led the first successful expedition to navigate the Northeast Passage, a sea route along the northern coast of Eurasia.

Another noteworthy figure was Niels Gade (1817-1890), a Danish composer and violinist who played a significant role in the development of Romantic-era music in Scandinavia, particularly with his symphonic works.