Nelson Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Nelson is an English name that means 'son of Nell', originating from the diminutive of 'Ellen' or 'Helen'. It has evolved from 'Nell' to its current form. The name is often associated with strength and leadership, particularly due to its connection with Admiral Horatio Nelson. It has no biblical relevance and gained popularity in the 19th century. Variants include Nell, Nelly, and Nels.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nelson"
Pronunciation
/ˈnɛlsən/
Origin
English
Etymology
The name Nelson is derived from the given name 'Nell', which is a diminutive form of 'Ellen' or 'Helen'. The name 'Nelson' literally means 'son of Nell'.
Meaning
son of Nell
Language Evolution
Nell, Nelson
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in Britain, due to the fame of Admiral Horatio Nelson, a British naval hero.
Variants & Derivatives
Nell, Nelly, Nels
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Nelson is perceived as a traditional and classic name, often associated with strength and leadership due to its historical connections.
Famous People
Nelson Mandela, Nelson Piquet, Nelson Riddle
📊 Nelson Name Trend Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Nelson Name Visualizations
✨ Nelson Name Meaning & Significance
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 1,083 peak births in 1959
Geographic Spread
Popular across 47 US states, with strongest presence in Hawaii
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 14 different American generations with varying popularity
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nelson"
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 "Nelson"
"Nelson" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 195th of 7545 | 11,316 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 201st of 6773 | 12,416 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 245th of 7552 | 17,055 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 282nd of 10718 | 11,386 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 324th of 16616 | 11,649 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 460th of 24088 | 9,079 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 680th of 23106 | 4,593 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4543rd of 9107 | 68 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4210th of 9204 | 83 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 7580th of 12526 | 40 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 6155th of 19264 | 123 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 10645th of 27321 | 85 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 29526th of 35406 | 11 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 21282nd of 30306 | 21 |
Regional Popularity of "Nelson" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
14.41% 204th/1416 |
10.59% 146th/1379 |
8.03% 190th/2366 |
32.49% 371st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
14.81% 229th/1546 |
8.80% 137th/1556 |
8.67% 204th/2353 |
17.91% 277th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
12.98% 289th/2227 |
5.68% 138th/2430 |
9.18% 262nd/2853 |
11.35% 315th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
13.11% 385th/2937 |
4.28% 149th/3483 |
9.89% 348th/3518 |
9.45% 382nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
12.59% 464th/3685 |
3.87% 173rd/4475 |
7.24% 376th/5194 |
5.19% 328th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
13.88% 636th/4582 |
5.81% 300th/5164 |
6.52% 477th/7313 |
6.63% 495th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
18.32% 730th/3984 |
11.97% 537th/4487 |
9.79% 668th/6822 |
11.98% 752nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Nelson" 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 "Nelson"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Nelson" 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.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Nelson" in the United States
The name Nelson is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation X (Gen X) 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, Nelson has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled 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, 'Nelson' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 195th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 201st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 245th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 282nd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 324th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 460th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 680th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4543rd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4210th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7580th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6155th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10645th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 29526th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 21282nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Nelson' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.