Nels
2 countries#4539 in United States, 2025Popularity across 2 countries
Each line is scaled to its own peak, so you can compare when Nels was in fashion in each country, whatever the population size.
Country by country
🇺🇸 United States
3,841 births recorded 1880–2025 · currently #4539 · peaked in 1918 with 65 births
Most common in: Minnesota, California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Washington
Source: Social Security Administration, official birth-registration data
🇫🇷 France
6 births recorded 2010–2019 · peaked in 2010 with 3 births
Source: INSEE, official birth-registration data
United States rank history
Nels’s rank among boys’ names, most recent 20 years on record.
| Year | Rank | vs. prior yr |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | #9585 | — |
| 2007 | #6622 | ↑2963 |
| 2008 | #7698 | ↓1076 |
| 2009 | #5554 | ↑2144 |
| 2010 | #5251 | ↑303 |
| 2011 | #6578 | ↓1327 |
| 2012 | #7050 | ↓472 |
| 2013 | #9655 | ↓2605 |
| 2014 | #4538 | ↑5117 |
| 2015 | #5999 | ↓1461 |
| 2016 | #5789 | ↑210 |
| 2017 | #5526 | ↑263 |
| 2018 | #7136 | ↓1610 |
| 2019 | #6406 | ↑730 |
| 2020 | #5451 | ↑955 |
| 2021 | #4362 | ↑1089 |
| 2022 | #5019 | ↓657 |
| 2023 | #5075 | ↓56 |
| 2024 | #5241 | ↓166 |
| 2025 | #4539 | ↑702 |
Frequently asked questions about Nels
Is Nels a popular name?
Yes — Nels currently ranks #4539 among boys’ names in United States as of 2025, based on official birth records.
Is Nels more common for boys or girls?
Nels is recorded predominantly as a boys’ name in official United States birth data.
When was Nels most popular?
Nels peaked in 1918 in United States, with 65 recorded births that year.
Is Nels rising or falling in popularity?
In United States, Nels’s popularity is falling — its rank has slipped from #526 in 1880 to #4539 in 2025.
How many babies have been named Nels?
At least 3,847 babies have been recorded with the name Nels across official birth statistics in 2 countries.
Is Nels popular in more than one country?
Yes — Nels appears in official birth records in 2 countries: United States, France.