ESC 

Name Rank Total 

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1918

First Year

2026

Last Year

2009

Peak Year

#1214

Peak Rank

3K

Total Count

67

Years Active

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📖

## The Story of Neel

Neel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1918, with 8 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2009: 148 births, good for #1,214 nationwide. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 28% of all recorded Neels. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,929 among baby boy names with 83 births, gradually falling (-8%). In total, more than 3K Neels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

## Popularity Over Time

## Popularity by State

ME

WA

MT

ND

MN

WI

MI

NY

VT

NH

MA

OR

ID

SD

IA

IL

IN

OH

PA

NJ

CT

RI

CA

NV

WY

NE

MO

KY

WV

VA

MD

DE

DC

UT

CO

KS

AR

TN

NC

SC

AK

AZ

NM

OK

LA

MS

AL

GA

HI

TX

FL

Top 10

11-50

51-100

101-500

500+

No data

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## Names that sound like Neel

Phonetically similar names — useful when Neel is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name. 

* Kneel
* [Neil](/neil)
* [Neal](/neal)
* [Niel](/niel)
* [Neill](/neill)
* [Neale](/neale)
* Kneale
* Neele
* Neall
* [Neile](/neile)
* [Nail](/nail)
* [Nile](/nile)

Source: [Datamuse ](https://www.datamuse.com/api/). Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated. 

❓

## Frequently Asked Questions about Neel

What does the name Neel mean?

Neel is a boy's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1918\. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.

How popular is Neel in 2026?

In 2026, Neel ranks #1,929 among boys' names in the U.S., with 83 babies given the name that year.

When was Neel most popular?

Neel reached its peak popularity in 2009, ranking #1,214 that year with 148 babies given the name.

In which U.S. states is Neel most popular?

Neel has historically been most popular in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Washington. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Neel.

Is Neel a unisex name?

In U.S. Social Security records, Neel is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.

What names go well with Neel?

Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Neel include Carole, Micahel, Jimi. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

## Similar Names

[👦CarolePeak #1214](/carole)[👦MicahelPeak #1214](/micahel)[👦JimiPeak #1214](/jimi)[👦JaisonPeak #1214](/jaison)[👦IshanPeak #1214](/ishan)[👦RyloPeak #1214](/rylo)[👦RoganPeak #1215](/rogan)[👦KhyreePeak #1213](/khyree)

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## About the name Neel 

Neel is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1918 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Neel's peak popularity came in 2009 when it ranked #1,214\. Use the chart and map above to compare Neel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

### Continue exploring 

* [ Top names of 2009 → ](/year/2009)
* [ Names of the 2000s → ](/decade/2000s)
* [ Names starting with "N" → ](/letter/n)
* [ Browse all boy names → ](/names/boys)
* [ Top names of 2026 → ](/year/2026)

Data sources

* Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. [Social Security Administration ](https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/). Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
* Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — [Behind the Name ](https://www.behindthename.com/) (used under their public API terms).
* Meaning prose and editorial summary — [Wikipedia ](https://en.wikipedia.org/) article extracts, licensed under [CC BY-SA 3.0 ](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/).
* Predicted nationality distribution — [Nationalize.io ](https://nationalize.io/).
* Phonetically similar names — [Datamuse ](https://www.datamuse.com/api/).

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides. 

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