girl's name · in the US
Nel
NEL (English)
- Gender Girl (US)
- Syllables 1
- Letters 3
- Popularity Rare
- Births on record 1,326
England and Wales
#901
2025 births
Nel is a girl's name in the United States, with 1 syllable. It is given to both girls and boys — about 79% of recorded births with this name are girls. In 2025 it was given to 6 babies in the United States. It is a rare choice.
- Peaked in England and Wales in 2017, when 49 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade in England and Wales.
- Today about 1 in 13,511 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1999.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
Nel Over Time
Births per decade in England and Wales, 1990s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 3 |
| 2000s | 130 |
| 2010s | 388 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 241 |
How Popular Is Nel?
In 2025, Nel was given to 39 babies in England and Wales, ranking #901 that year. It is a rare choice.
Where Nel Is Used
Figures for England and Wales leave out any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Nel
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Nel Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Nel over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Nel is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- England & Wales Girls' 100% girls · 415 babies
- France Both 18% girls · 85 babies
- United States Girls' 100% girls · 64 babies
How to Say Nel
- English NEL /nɛl/
Nel in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Nel
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Nel — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Nel
How popular is the name Nel?
In 2025, Nel was given to 39 babies in England and Wales, ranking #901 that year. It is a rare choice.
Is Nel a girl's or a boy's name?
Nel is used for both girls and boys. About 79% of recorded births with this name are girls.
How many syllables are in Nel?
Nel has 1 syllable.
When was Nel most popular?
Nel peaked in 2017, when 49 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Nel a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Nel currently ranks #629 in England and Wales. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.