Neil
Boy name · #850 in 2025 · Uniqueness 64/100
Neil is currently the #850 boy name in the United States — 288 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #641, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,250 boys born in 2025 was named Neil.
Babies named Neil per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Neil first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 24 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1954, when 1,959 boys were named Neil — good for #147 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Neil against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Neil in class?
Neil scores 64 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Neil is most common
Geography matters for names, and Neil is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Neils were CA (37), TX (29), NJ (17), NY (17), VA (15). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Neil
Statistically, parents drawn to Neil tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Neal, Carl, Nelson, Joey, and Nick.
NealCarlNelsonJoeyNickKarlLeeRay
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Neil | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 288 | #850 |
| 2024 | 280 | #862 |
| 2023 | 305 | #806 |
| 2022 | 330 | #765 |
| 2021 | 360 | #719 |
| 2020 | 324 | #748 |
| 2019 | 422 | #637 |
| 2018 | 427 | #624 |
| 2017 | 422 | #618 |
| 2016 | 425 | #629 |
| 2015 | 414 | #641 |
| 2014 | 397 | #656 |
| 2013 | 394 | #623 |
| 2012 | 391 | #620 |
| 2011 | 358 | #655 |
| 2010 | 342 | #686 |
| 2009 | 396 | #630 |
| 2008 | 327 | #712 |
| 2007 | 305 | #741 |
| 2006 | 398 | #605 |
| 2005 | 380 | #594 |
| 2004 | 338 | #624 |
| 2003 | 384 | #575 |
| 2002 | 381 | #574 |
| 2001 | 443 | #512 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Neil a popular boy name?
Neil ranked #850 among boys in 2025 with 288 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #641.
When was the name Neil most popular?
Neil peaked in 1954, when 1,959 American boys received the name (ranked #147 that year). Since 1954 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Neil?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,250 newborn American boys was named Neil. It scores 64/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.