US Popularity:1684
Origin:Irish
Other Origin(s):Celtic, Scottish
Meaning:Champion; Passion; Cloud
Neil is a boy's name of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized version of Niall, which means "champion," "passionate," or even possibly "cloud." The name made its way to Irish shores in the form of Njall with the arrival of the Normans. In Scotland, Neil is a derivative of the surname McNeill. But this name’s historical significance doesn’t end with the Gaels. Famous people called Neil include first man on the moon Neil Armstrong and renowned singer-songwriter, Neil Young. With a name like Neil, you can teach baby to be their own champion and to honor their deeply rooted heritage in one fell swoop.

Famous People Named Neil

Wondering who else shares this name? Check out these well known people who made this baby name famous.
  • Neil Armstrong
    Astronaut
  • Neil Simon
    Playwright

How Popular Is The Name Neil?

The Bump Ranking

Overall:Neil is currently #1147 on The Bump
Boy:Neil is currently #637 on The Bump Boy Names

U.S. Births

Overall:Neil is currently #1684 in U.S. births
Boy:Neil is currently #811 in U.S. births

Yearly Ranking Change:

Year:
2023
#811
in 2023
- 47
from 2022
In comparison to the previous year's data
Sources
Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial process.

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