Nels Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Nels is a Scandinavian name that evolved from the Greek Nikolaos, meaning 'victory of the people'. It has historical roots in various languages and has been used since the medieval period. The name conveys a sense of strength and heritage, with no direct biblical relevance. Today, it is viewed as a classic name, with several variants and notable individuals bearing the name.
The name Nels is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Nels has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Nels' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 943rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1245th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1167th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1599th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2826th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6096th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5616th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Nels' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nels"
Pronunciation
/nɛlz/
Origin
Scandinavian
Etymology
Nels is a diminutive form of the name Niels, which is a variant of the name Nicholas. The name Nicholas comes from the Greek name Nikolaos, composed of the elements 'nikē' meaning 'victory' and 'laos' meaning 'people'.
Meaning
Victory of the people
Language Evolution
Nikolaos (Greek), Nicholas (Latin), Niels (Danish/Norwegian), Nels (Scandinavian)
Historical Usage
The name Nels gained popularity in Scandinavian countries during the late medieval period and has remained common in various forms since then.
Variants & Derivatives
Niels, Nicholas, Nick, Nico
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Nels is perceived as a traditional and classic name, often associated with Scandinavian heritage.
Famous People
Nels Cline - American musician and guitarist, Nelsan Ellis - American actor, Nels Stewart - Canadian professional ice hockey player
Explore More Nels Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nels"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Nels"
"Nels" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 943rd of 7545 | 845 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1245th of 6773 | 565 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1167th of 7552 | 793 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1599th of 10718 | 482 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2826th of 16616 | 338 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6096th of 24088 | 194 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 5616th of 23106 | 192 |
Regional Popularity of "Nels" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
37.43% 530th/1416 |
- | - |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
45.34% 701st/1546 |
- | - |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
37.14% 827th/2227 |
- | - |
31.46% 873rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
42.90% 1260th/2937 |
- | - |
32.91% 1331st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
51.02% 1880th/3685 |
- | - |
39.51% 2496th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
60.28% 2762nd/4582 |
- | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
51.86% 2066th/3984 |
- | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Nels" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Nels"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Nels" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.