Nelson
Boy name · #824 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Nelson? In official American birth records, Nelson has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nelson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nelson in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nelson is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". 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. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Nelson is most common in MD (0.5 per 1,000), NY (0.4 per 1,000), VA (0.3 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000), GA (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Nelson is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Nelson?
In official American birth records, the name Nelson first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 99 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.