Neil
Last seen for girls in 1990 at #12,958 · #850 for boys in 2025, 288 births
Given to boys 99.6% of the time
- Peak · boys
- 1953 · 1,937 births
- Debut · boys
- 24 births
- In top 100 · boys
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 104,869since 1880
Neil over time
Rank among boys' names. Neil has never cracked the top 100 here.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | — | #850 | 288 | |
| 2024 | — | #862 | 280 | |
| 2023 | — | #806 | 305 | |
| 2022 | — | #765 | 330 | |
| 2021 | — | #719 | 360 | |
| 2020 | — | #748 | 324 | |
| 2019 | — | #637 | 422 | |
| 2018 | — | #624 | 427 | |
| 2017 | — | #618 | 422 | |
| 2016 | — | #629 | 425 | |
| 2015 | — | #641 | 414 | |
| 2014 | — | #656 | 397 | |
| 2013 | — | #623 | 394 | |
| 2012 | — | #620 | 391 | |
| 2011 | — | #655 | 358 | |
| 2010 | — | #686 | 342 | |
| 2009 | — | #630 | 396 | |
| 2008 | — | #712 | 327 | |
| 2007 | — | #741 | 305 | |
| 2006 | — | #605 | 398 | |
| 2005 | — | #594 | 380 | |
| 2004 | — | #624 | 338 | |
| 2003 | — | #575 | 384 | |
| 2002 | — | #574 | 381 | |
| 2001 | — | #512 | 443 | |
| 2000 | — | #494 | 462 | |
| 1999 | — | #464 | 490 | |
| 1998 | — | #460 | 489 | |
| 1997 | — | #430 | 526 | |
| 1996 | — | #404 | 579 | |
| 1995 | — | #357 | 678 | |
| 1994 | — | #348 | 704 | |
| 1993 | — | #326 | 784 | |
| 1992 | — | #322 | 791 | |
| 1991 | — | #283 | 918 | |
| 1990 | #12,958 | 5 | #261 | 1,028 |
| 1989 | #8,037 | 9 | #251 | 1,027 |
| 1988 | #9,244 | 7 | #240 | 999 |
| 1987 | #9,825 | 6 | #221 | 1,078 |
| 1986 | #8,523 | 7 | #211 | 1,152 |
| 1985 | #6,031 | 11 | #202 | 1,206 |
| 1984 | #9,144 | 6 | #205 | 1,125 |
| 1983 | #5,457 | 12 | #195 | 1,226 |
| 1982 | #6,371 | 10 | #188 | 1,342 |
| 1981 | #5,254 | 13 | #188 | 1,330 |
| 1980 | #5,544 | 12 | #181 | 1,348 |
| 1979 | #10,210 | 5 | #165 | 1,486 |
| 1978 | #5,958 | 10 | #159 | 1,527 |
| 1977 | #9,652 | 5 | #169 | 1,429 |
| 1976 | #6,611 | 8 | #173 | 1,354 |
| 1975 | #5,161 | 11 | #174 | 1,331 |
| 1974 | #7,680 | 6 | #175 | 1,323 |
| 1973 | #7,435 | 6 | #182 | 1,297 |
| 1972 | #7,292 | 6 | #185 | 1,304 |
| 1971 | #6,619 | 7 | #182 | 1,422 |
| 1970 | #4,038 | 14 | #178 | 1,567 |
| 1969 | #4,418 | 11 | #164 | 1,680 |
| 1968 | #7,016 | 5 | #218 | 1,049 |
| 1967 | — | #200 | 1,155 | |
| 1966 | — | #198 | 1,227 | |
| 1965 | — | #191 | 1,321 | |
| 1964 | #6,009 | 6 | #182 | 1,527 |
| 1963 | — | #204 | 1,448 | |
| 1962 | — | #214 | 1,291 | |
| 1961 | — | #196 | 1,524 | |
| 1960 | — | #199 | 1,446 | |
| 1959 | #6,245 | 5 | #185 | 1,632 |
| 1958 | #4,890 | 7 | #174 | 1,711 |
| 1957 | #4,536 | 8 | #181 | 1,676 |
| 1956 | #5,952 | 5 | #171 | 1,747 |
| 1955 | #5,828 | 5 | #159 | 1,785 |
| 1954 | #5,753 | 5 | #147 | 1,959 |
| 1953 | #3,955 | 9 | #146 | 1,937 |
| 1952 | #4,483 | 7 | #147 | 1,904 |
| 1951 | #4,385 | 7 | #149 | 1,755 |
| 1950 | — | #156 | 1,609 | |
| 1949 | — | #161 | 1,471 | |
| 1948 | #4,205 | 7 | #165 | 1,406 |
| 1947 | — | #162 | 1,460 | |
| 1946 | — | #161 | 1,343 | |
| 1945 | #4,556 | 5 | #157 | 1,210 |
| 1944 | — | #161 | 1,140 | |
| 1943 | — | #162 | 1,155 | |
| 1942 | #4,622 | 5 | #160 | 1,101 |
| 1941 | — | #161 | 1,074 | |
| 1940 | — | #156 | 1,067 | |
| 1939 | #3,145 | 8 | #152 | 1,068 |
| 1938 | — | #152 | 1,066 | |
| 1937 | #3,800 | 6 | #157 | 969 |
| 1936 | — | #158 | 913 | |
| 1935 | — | #167 | 858 | |
| 1934 | #3,449 | 7 | #153 | 953 |
| 1933 | #3,109 | 8 | #149 | 997 |
| 1932 | #3,901 | 6 | #161 | 934 |
| 1931 | #3,848 | 6 | #165 | 881 |
| 1930 | #3,658 | 7 | #174 | 827 |
| 1929 | #3,682 | 7 | #195 | 696 |
| 1928 | #4,195 | 6 | #198 | 696 |
| 1927 | — | #221 | 609 | |
| 1926 | #3,873 | 7 | #225 | 600 |
| 1925 | #4,973 | 5 | #234 | 563 |
| 1924 | #4,434 | 6 | #248 | 541 |
| 1923 | — | #248 | 508 | |
| 1922 | #4,445 | 6 | #255 | 489 |
| 1921 | #4,464 | 6 | #251 | 497 |
| 1920 | #3,598 | 8 | #247 | 489 |
| 1919 | — | #275 | 366 | |
| 1918 | #3,512 | 8 | #285 | 359 |
| 1917 | — | #270 | 356 | |
| 1916 | #4,417 | 5 | #256 | 375 |
| 1915 | — | #296 | 289 | |
| 1914 | — | #293 | 232 | |
| 1913 | — | #293 | 184 | |
| 1912 | — | #290 | 151 | |
| 1911 | — | #363 | 58 | |
| 1910 | — | #337 | 54 | |
| 1909 | — | #357 | 43 | |
| 1908 | — | #293 | 55 | |
| 1907 | — | #328 | 42 | |
| 1906 | — | #342 | 37 | |
| 1905 | — | #311 | 42 | |
| 1904 | — | #306 | 41 | |
| 1903 | — | #360 | 28 | |
| 1902 | — | #373 | 28 | |
| 1901 | — | #314 | 32 | |
| 1900 | — | #292 | 50 | |
| 1899 | — | #355 | 26 | |
| 1898 | — | #324 | 35 | |
| 1897 | — | #367 | 26 | |
| 1896 | — | #262 | 47 | |
| 1895 | — | #329 | 31 | |
| 1894 | — | #322 | 30 | |
| 1893 | — | #330 | 28 | |
| 1892 | — | #309 | 36 | |
| 1891 | — | #340 | 25 | |
| 1890 | — | #322 | 29 | |
| 1889 | — | #332 | 28 | |
| 1888 | — | #387 | 23 | |
| 1887 | — | #356 | 21 | |
| 1886 | — | #348 | 24 | |
| 1885 | — | #332 | 26 | |
| 1884 | — | #369 | 23 | |
| 1883 | — | #346 | 23 | |
| 1882 | — | #416 | 19 | |
| 1881 | — | #781 | 6 | |
| 1880 | — | #350 | 24 | |
In the first year the SSA published name data, Neil was already there! It came in at #350, and was given to 24 baby boys.
Quietest stretch: 1881, when fewer than 7 boys a year got the name.
Where Neil is popular in 1979
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Rhode Island#65 · 1 in 353
- Massachusetts#88 · 1 in 595
- Minnesota#90 · 1 in 576
- Wisconsin#90 · 1 in 585
- North Dakota#106 · 1 in 552
Best ever in a state: #24 in Nevada, 1923.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | #65 | 15 | 1 in 353 |
| Massachusetts | #88 | 57 | 1 in 595 |
| Minnesota | #90 | 54 | 1 in 576 |
| Wisconsin | #90 | 59 | 1 in 585 |
| North Dakota | #106 | 10 | 1 in 552 |
| Montana | #112 | 10 | 1 in 581 |
| Pennsylvania | #118 | 88 | 1 in 864 |
| New Hampshire | #119 | 6 | 1 in 949 |
| Iowa | #120 | 27 | 1 in 821 |
| Utah | #123 | 27 | 1 in 704 |
| Washington | #126 | 36 | 1 in 823 |
| Illinois | #129 | 102 | 1 in 821 |
| Ohio | #129 | 85 | 1 in 946 |
| South Dakota | #129 | 7 | 1 in 760 |
| Delaware | #130 | 5 | 1 in 743 |
| Hawaii | #130 | 11 | 1 in 586 |
| Michigan | #130 | 71 | 1 in 944 |
| Connecticut | #131 | 18 | 1 in 961 |
| Indiana | #131 | 41 | 1 in 1,002 |
| Nebraska | #134 | 13 | 1 in 920 |
| New York | #134 | 125 | 1 in 888 |
| Idaho | #136 | 10 | 1 in 842 |
| Colorado | #145 | 24 | 1 in 907 |
| Kentucky | #150 | 26 | 1 in 1,083 |
| Oregon | #152 | 19 | 1 in 1,019 |
| Kansas | #153 | 17 | 1 in 990 |
| Virginia | #160 | 31 | 1 in 1,073 |
| Maryland | #161 | 24 | 1 in 944 |
| New Jersey | #169 | 36 | 1 in 1,179 |
| Missouri | #173 | 27 | 1 in 1,360 |
| Arizona | #189 | 20 | 1 in 1,046 |
| California | #202 | 148 | 1 in 1,214 |
| West Virginia | #204 | 7 | 1 in 1,985 |
| District of Columbia | #213 | 7 | 1 in 1,128 |
| Florida | #231 | 36 | 1 in 1,521 |
| Oklahoma | #238 | 12 | 1 in 1,779 |
| Mississippi | #252 | 12 | 1 in 1,577 |
| Arkansas | #255 | 8 | 1 in 1,992 |
| South Carolina | #261 | 12 | 1 in 1,755 |
| North Carolina | #277 | 16 | 1 in 2,348 |
| Louisiana | #278 | 21 | 1 in 1,662 |
| Texas | #312 | 56 | 1 in 2,202 |
| Alabama | #332 | 9 | 1 in 2,999 |
| Georgia | #339 | 13 | 1 in 3,022 |
| Tennessee | #364 | 8 | 1 in 4,107 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Wyoming | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Neil
- 12 spots since 2024 (#862 → #850)
- 102 spots since 2020 (#748 → #850)
- 209 spots since 2015 (#641 → #850)
- Biggest jump: 365 spots in 1882 (#781 → #416)
- Biggest drop: 431 spots in 1881 (#350 → #781)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1953 at #146 (1,937 births)
- Births halved by 1991, 38 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
- Highest: 1 in 995 boys born in 1933 were named Neil (0.10%)
- Latest: 1 in 5,931 boys born in 2025 (0.02%)
- Its best rank, #146 in 1953, was only 1 in 1,018 (0.10%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
- 16.9% of all boys named Neil (17,715) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 217 | #332 (1889) | #402 |
| 1890s | 313 | #262 (1896) | #326 |
| 1900s | 398 | #292 (1900) | #328 |
| 1910s | 2,424 | #256 (1916) | #296 |
| 1920s | 5,688 | #195 (1929) | #232 |
| 1930s | 9,466 | #149 (1933) | #159 |
| 1940s | 12,427 | #156 (1940) | #161 |
| 1950s | 17,715 | #146 (1953) | #162 |
| 1960s | 13,668 | #164 (1969) | #197 |
| 1970s | 14,040 | #159 (1978) | #174 |
| 1980s | 11,833 | #181 (1980) | #208 |
| 1990s | 6,987 | #261 (1990) | #366 |
| 2000s | 3,814 | #494 (2000) | #606 |
| 2010s | 3,992 | #618 (2017) | #639 |
| 2020s | 1,887 | #719 (2021) | #792 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Neil in 1979
Top girls' names in 1979
Top boys' names in 1979
More about 1979
girls
1,605,268 girls got a published name in 1979; 1 in 321,054 of them was named Neil, which outranked 14.7% of the 11,972 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Tied with 1,762 names at #10,210; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,721,536 boys got a published name in 1979; 1 in 1,159 of them was named Neil, which outranked 97.7% of the 7,071 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.1% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.