Neal Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Neal is an Irish name derived from 'Niall', meaning 'cloud' or 'passionate'. It has evolved through various forms and gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly among Irish communities. The name is seen as classic and reliable, with notable figures like Neal Armstrong contributing to its recognition.
The name Neal is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers 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. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Neal has been stalled for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, falling for male in South, 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 South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Neal' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 307th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 267th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 229th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 303rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 433rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1125th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1513th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3504th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4870th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7802nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 11640th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 23525th out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Neal' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Neal"
Pronunciation
/nɪl/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
The name Neal is derived from the Irish name 'Niall', which is believed to mean 'cloud' or 'passionate'. It is often associated with a famous 5th-century Irish king.
Meaning
cloud, passionate
Language Evolution
Niall, Neal, Neil
Historical Usage
The name Neal gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, particularly in Ireland and among Irish immigrants in the United States.
Variants & Derivatives
Neil, Niel, Niall
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Neal is perceived as a classic and somewhat traditional name, often associated with reliability and strength.
Famous People
Neal Armstrong, Neal Cassady, Neal Patrick Harris
Explore More Neal Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Neal"
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 "Neal"
"Neal" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 307th of 7545 | 5,480 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 267th of 6773 | 8,101 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 229th of 7552 | 19,159 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 303rd of 10718 | 10,396 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 433rd of 16616 | 7,335 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1125th of 24088 | 2,327 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1513th of 23106 | 1,370 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3504th of 9107 | 121 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4870th of 9204 | 59 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 7802nd of 12526 | 36 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 11640th of 19264 | 31 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 23525th of 27321 | 10 |
Regional Popularity of "Neal" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
17.94% 254th/1416 |
24.51% 338th/1379 |
12.76% 302nd/2366 |
25.57% 292nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
13.71% 212th/1546 |
13.37% 208th/1556 |
13.13% 309th/2353 |
16.16% 250th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
9.07% 202nd/2227 |
6.75% 164th/2430 |
10.55% 301st/2853 |
8.25% 229th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
8.38% 246th/2937 |
7.18% 250th/3483 |
9.92% 349th/3518 |
8.23% 333rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
8.25% 304th/3685 |
8.54% 382nd/4475 |
10.01% 520th/5194 |
7.58% 479th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
22.87% 1048th/4582 |
19.69% 1017th/5164 |
17.05% 1247th/7313 |
16.62% 1240th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
39.78% 1585th/3984 |
34.25% 1537th/4487 |
24.60% 1678th/6822 |
22.29% 1399th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Neal" 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 "Neal"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Neal" 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.