Neely
Neely is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include:
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 →
The Story of Neely
As a girl name
Neely first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1888, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1974, when 75 Neelys were born — ranking #1,369 that year. As of 2026, Neely ranks #5,051 for girls with 26 births, gradually falling (-14%). In total, more than 2K Neelys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Neely first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1890, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1919, when 17 Neelys were born — ranking #1,882 that year. As of 2026, Neely ranks #8,799 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 391 Neelys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through 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?
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.