Nelson
Boy name · #824 in 2025 · Uniqueness 68/100
Nelson is currently the #824 boy name in the United States — 300 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #626, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,000 boys born in 2025 was named Nelson.
The 145-year story
Nelson first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 99 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1959, when 1,084 boys were named Nelson — good for #244 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.
Babies named Nelson per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nelson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nelson in class?
Nelson scores 68 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Nelson will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nelson is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nelson is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nelsons were CA (35), NY (31), TX (23), FL (21), GA (11). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nelson
Statistically, parents drawn to Nelson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Byron, Kelvin, Gordon, Marlon, and Darwin.
ByronKelvinGordonMarlonDarwinDionTheronRobin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nelson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 300 | #824 |
| 2024 | 323 | #777 |
| 2023 | 311 | #797 |
| 2022 | 315 | #797 |
| 2021 | 358 | #722 |
| 2020 | 388 | #670 |
| 2019 | 407 | #654 |
| 2018 | 374 | #671 |
| 2017 | 411 | #631 |
| 2016 | 431 | #621 |
| 2015 | 426 | #626 |
| 2014 | 409 | #645 |
| 2013 | 442 | #581 |
| 2012 | 466 | #558 |
| 2011 | 457 | #556 |
| 2010 | 447 | #568 |
| 2009 | 520 | #519 |
| 2008 | 551 | #497 |
| 2007 | 584 | #467 |
| 2006 | 605 | #448 |
| 2005 | 595 | #441 |
| 2004 | 574 | #450 |
| 2003 | 612 | #420 |
| 2002 | 619 | #408 |
| 2001 | 615 | #407 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nelson a popular boy name?
Nelson ranked #824 among boys in 2025 with 300 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #626.
When was the name Nelson most popular?
Nelson peaked in 1959, when 1,084 American boys received the name (ranked #244 that year). Since 1959 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nelson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,000 newborn American boys was named Nelson. It scores 68/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.