Nils Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Nils is a Scandinavian name derived from the Greek Nikolaos, meaning 'victory of the people.' It evolved through Latin and has historical roots in the veneration of Saint Nicholas. The name has gained popularity in Scandinavia since the Middle Ages and is associated with strength and reliability. Nils has no direct biblical relevance but is connected to a widely recognized saint. Notable figures with this name include physicist Nils Bohr and musician Nils Lofgren.
The name Nils is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast 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, Nils has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Nils' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1833rd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1315th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1369th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1515th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2256th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3539th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4778th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Nils' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nils"
Pronunciation
/nɪlz/
Origin
Scandinavian
Etymology
Nils is a Scandinavian form of the name Nicholas, which derives from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning 'victory of the people.'
Meaning
victory of the people
Language Evolution
Nikolaos (Greek), Nicholas (Latin), Nils (Scandinavian)
Historical Usage
The name Nils became popular in Scandinavia during the Middle Ages, particularly due to the influence of Saint Nicholas, who was widely venerated.
Variants & Derivatives
Nicolas, Niklas, Niels
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Nils is viewed as a traditional yet modern name in Scandinavian countries, often associated with a strong, reliable character.
Famous People
Nils Bohr, a Danish physicist, Nils Holgersson, a character in Swedish literature, Nils Lofgren, an American musician
Explore More Nils Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nils"
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 "Nils"
"Nils" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1833rd of 7545 | 287 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1315th of 6773 | 493 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1369th of 7552 | 611 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1515th of 10718 | 526 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 2256th of 16616 | 462 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3539th of 24088 | 431 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4778th of 23106 | 244 |
Regional Popularity of "Nils" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
63.23% 872nd/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
40.49% 630th/1556 |
- |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
34.77% 845th/2430 |
- |
38.09% 1057th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
55.16% 1620th/2937 |
42.38% 1476th/3483 |
- |
34.92% 1412th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
61.30% 2259th/3685 |
52.36% 2343rd/4475 |
- |
34.65% 2189th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
61.50% 2818th/4582 |
- | - |
33.03% 2465th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
75.30% 3000th/3984 |
- | - |
65.98% 4141st/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Nils" 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 "Nils"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Nils" 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.