Nelson
Meaning
“English surname meaning 'son of Neil'”
Famously borne by Nelson Mandela, the name a teacher gave the boy born Rolihlahla, who served 27 years and became president.
Popularity, 1890–2024
Shape drawn from US Social Security baby-name records. Nelson peaked in the 1910s and the 2020s in nearly equal measure.
Popularity in Brazil
161,474 people · the #207 first name in Brazil · about 1 in 1,258 · median age 59
Among people named Nelson living in Brazil at the 2022 census, more were born in the 1960s than in any other decade.
The census also counted 425 born between 2020 and August 2022, too recent a span to chart.
Source: IBGE, Censo Demográfico 2022
When you meet Nelson
People given the name Nelson in the United States span the generations: the middle half were born anywhere from 1950 to 2009. Age is the one thing the name won't tell you.
Estimated from US Social Security birth registrations and typical lifespans; a rough guide, not a rule.
The Nelson deep dive
Whether you’re naming a baby or exploring your own name’s history, this is a personal letter, not a list: where Nelson truly comes from, how it traveled, and what a century of records reveals. If you have grown a tree on nametree, it also considers how Nelson fits with your family’s names and surname.
Where Nelson travels
Chinese American · A documented choice in Chinese American families.
Keep exploring
English-Brazilian names · Chinese American baby names · Names of revolutionaries and liberators
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