Nelson
4 countries#824 in United States, 2025Popularity across 4 countries
Each line is scaled to its own peak, so you can compare when Nelson was in fashion in each country, whatever the population size.
Country by country
🇺🇸 United States
80,140 births recorded 1880–2025 · currently #824 · peaked in 1959 with 1,084 births
Most common in: New York, California, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio
Source: Social Security Administration, official birth-registration data
🇫🇷 France
8,081 births recorded 1900–2022 · currently #486 · peaked in 2014 with 245 births
Most common in: Paris, Val-de-Marne, Seine-Saint-Denis, La Réunion, Hauts-de-Seine
Source: INSEE, official birth-registration data
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
691 births recorded 1996–2025 · currently #844 · peaked in 2012 with 43 births (England & Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland combined)
Source: ONS, National Records of Scotland & NISRA (combined), official birth-registration data
🏴🏴 England & Wales
675 births recorded 1996–2021 · currently #1139 · peaked in 2012 with 40 births
Source: Office for National Statistics, official birth-registration data
🏴 Scotland
16 births recorded 2011–2025 · currently #762 · peaked in 2011 with 4 births
Source: National Records of Scotland, official birth-registration data
United States rank history
Nelson’s rank among boys’ names, most recent 20 years on record.
| Year | Rank | vs. prior yr |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | #448 | — |
| 2007 | #467 | ↓19 |
| 2008 | #497 | ↓30 |
| 2009 | #519 | ↓22 |
| 2010 | #568 | ↓49 |
| 2011 | #556 | ↑12 |
| 2012 | #558 | ↓2 |
| 2013 | #581 | ↓23 |
| 2014 | #645 | ↓64 |
| 2015 | #626 | ↑19 |
| 2016 | #621 | ↑5 |
| 2017 | #631 | ↓10 |
| 2018 | #671 | ↓40 |
| 2019 | #654 | ↑17 |
| 2020 | #670 | ↓16 |
| 2021 | #722 | ↓52 |
| 2022 | #797 | ↓75 |
| 2023 | #797 | — |
| 2024 | #777 | ↑20 |
| 2025 | #824 | ↓47 |
Frequently asked questions about Nelson
Is Nelson a popular name?
Yes — Nelson currently ranks #824 among boys’ names in United States as of 2025, based on official birth records.
Is Nelson more common for boys or girls?
Nelson is recorded predominantly as a boys’ name in official United States birth data.
When was Nelson most popular?
Nelson peaked in 1959 in United States, with 1,084 recorded births that year.
Is Nelson rising or falling in popularity?
In United States, Nelson’s popularity is falling — its rank has slipped from #137 in 1880 to #824 in 2025.
How many babies have been named Nelson?
At least 88,912 babies have been recorded with the name Nelson across official birth statistics in 4 countries.
Is Nelson popular in more than one country?
Yes — Nelson appears in official birth records in 4 countries: United States, France, England & Wales, Scotland.
What names are similar in popularity to Nelson?
Based on real 2025 ranking data in United States, names ranked closest to Nelson include Teddy, Jettson, Yisroel, Drake.
Similar names right now
Ranked directly next to Nelson in United States, 2025 — a real popularity match, not a subjective list.