Nel
Nel is both a South African (Afrikaans) surname and a Dutch feminine given name.
Meaning & Origin of Nel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Nel is both a South African (Afrikaans) surname and a Dutch feminine given name.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Nel
Nel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1908, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2013, when 11 Nels were born — ranking #9,611 that year. As of 2026, Nel ranks #11,069 for baby girls with 8 births, gradually rising (+6%). In total, more than 127 Nels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Nel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nel 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 Nel
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About the name Nel
Nel is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1908 and has accumulated 127 births in the dataset. Nel's peak popularity came in 2013 when it ranked #9,611. Use the chart and map above to compare Nel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2013 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.