How Many People Are Named Nelson?
Complete statistics for the name Nelson: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Nelson is an English surname-turned-first-name meaning 'son of Neil,' with roots in Old Irish and Old English. About 49,856 people named Nelson are living in the US today, making it genuinely rare at 1 in 6,619 Americans. Its most famous bearer is probably Admiral Horatio Nelson, which gives the name a distinctly heroic, old-world feel.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 7 is traditionally associated with deep thinking, introspection, and a search for truth. People aligned with 7 are seen as analytical and spiritually curious, often drawn to wisdom over worldly ambition.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 64All 79,730 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1959Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Nelson Through the Generations
Nelson hit its stride in the mid-20th century, peaking in 1959 with 1,083 births in a single year. Since then it's been a slow, steady decline, and the numbers tell that story clearly. Of the roughly 49,856 Nelsons alive in the US today, a striking 55% are over 60, and the average age sits at 64. That's a name concentrated firmly in the older generation. Only 13,704 Nelsons are under 30, compared to 43,603 over 60, so younger parents just aren't reaching for it much anymore. The all-time US birth count of 79,730 versus roughly 49,856 living today also reflects natural attrition in an older-skewing population. Nelson isn't disappearing overnight, but it belongs to a generation that's passing through, and new Nelsons aren't arriving fast enough to refresh it.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Nelson
Nelson is an English, Scottish, Irish, Northern Irish, Scots-Irish, and Scandinavian given name, more commonly used as a surname.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Nelson's English roots
📄 About the Name Nelson
How Many People Have the Name Nelson?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 410,801 people in the United States currently share the name Nelson. That works out to roughly 1 in every 807 Americans, placing it in the Common category.
Is Nelson a Common or Rare Name?
Nelson is classified as Common. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Nelson Mean?
Nelson means "Son of Neil" and comes from English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Nelson in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.
When Was Nelson Most Popular?
The name Nelson reached peak popularity in 1959, with 1,083 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Nelson?
Approximately 410,801 people named Nelson live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 410,801. That works out to roughly 1 in 807 Americans.
Is Nelson a rare name?
Nelson is classified as Common in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 807 Americans has this name.
What does the name Nelson mean?
Nelson means "Son of Neil" and comes from English origins.
Is Nelson more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Nelson are male and 1% are female.
When was Nelson most popular?
Nelson peaked in 1959 with 1,083 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.