Neely
Neely is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include:
- English
Meaning & Origin of Neely
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Neely is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Neely
As a girl name
American parents first put Neely on the record books as a girl name in 1888, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1974, when 75 Neelys were born — ranking #1,369 that year. About 24% of every Neely on record arrived during the 2000s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Neely ranks #5,051 for girls with 26 births, gradually falling (-14%). All told, over 2K Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1880s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Neely as a boy name dates back to 1890, when 6 babies received it. 1919 was its biggest year on record, with 17 newborns named Neely — #1,882 in the national rankings. About 25% of every Neely on record arrived during the 1920s, its defining decade. Neely last appeared in the published SSA data in 1994, with 5 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 391 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1890s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Neely
Phonetically similar names — useful when Neely is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Neely
What does the name Neely mean?
What is the origin of the name Neely?
How popular is Neely in 2026?
When was Neely most popular?
In which U.S. states is Neely most popular?
Is Neely a unisex name?
What names go well with Neely?
About the name Neely
Neely is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1888 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Neely's peak popularity came in 1974 when it ranked #1,276. Use the chart and map above to compare Neely's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1974 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . 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 (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
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.