Nygel
An English masculine name meaning "black" or "dark complexioned".
Name Census estimates that about 512 living Americans carry the first name Nygel. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Nygel today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nygel births was 1999 (28 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nygel. 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
512
~ 1 in 669,442 Americans
Peak year
1999
28 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
2023 SSA rank
#13,594
Tracked since 1985
Popularity
Nygel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nygel from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 186 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nygel 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 Nygel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nygels live
Origin
Meaning and history of Nygel
The given name Nygel is believed to have its origins in the English language, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the more common name Nigel, which itself is derived from the Latin name Nigellus, a diminutive form of the word "niger," meaning "black" or "dark-colored."
During the medieval period, the name Nygel was primarily used in parts of England, particularly in the northern regions. It is possible that the spelling variation arose from regional dialects or accents, where the "i" sound was replaced with a "y" sound. However, historical records from that time are scarce, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact origin and evolution of this particular spelling.
While the name Nygel does not appear to have been prominently featured in any ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been borne by a few notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded examples is Nygel de Albini, a 12th-century English nobleman who lived during the reign of King Henry II (1154–1189).
Another historical figure bearing this name was Nygel Brooke (1563–1620), an English politician and member of the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his involvement in various parliamentary committees and his role in the establishment of the Virginia Company, which played a crucial part in the colonization of Virginia.
In the 18th century, Nygel Talbot (1725–1793) was a prominent British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was known for his victories against the French and Spanish fleets.
Moving into the 19th century, Nygel Talmadge (1810–1872) was an American politician and lawyer from New York. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and played a significant role in the formation of the Republican Party.
Finally, in the 20th century, Nygel Woodroffe (1916–1995) was a British artist and illustrator renowned for his contributions to the world of children's literature. His whimsical and imaginative illustrations adorned numerous books, capturing the hearts of young readers around the globe.
While the name Nygel is not among the most popular given names today, its unique spelling and historical connections make it a distinctive and intriguing choice, carrying with it a sense of tradition and heritage from the past.
People
Nygel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nygel 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
Nygel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nygel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 512 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nygel 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 669,442 US residents.
Is Nygel a common name?
We classify Nygel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 520 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nygel most popular?
The single biggest year for Nygel was 1999, when 28 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nygel is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nygel a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nygel 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.
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.