Origin, Meaning, And History Of Neil
Neil is a boy’s name of Gaelic and Irish origins. It is the English version of the Irish nameNiallwhich is possibly connected to the Celtic element *nītu, meaning ‘fury’ or ‘passion.’ It may also be related to the Old Irish word nia, meaning ‘hero’ or ‘champion.’ It could also be the derivative of Old Irishnél, meaning ‘cloud.’ Neil is often considered a shortened version of the surnames McNeill and O’Neill. It is used as a surname as well as a first name.
Neil could also be a German surname that originated from Rhineland. It is an occupational surname for carpenters, builders, or a person who made or sold nails. Germans initially used it as a given name but as the number of people in the area grew, it became a last name too. German people in the Rhineland region used their occupations to come up with surnames. Neil is derived from the Old Germannagal, which means ‘nail.’ It could also be a habitational name for people from a place called Nagel in Germany.
This name was used in Ireland and Scotland since the Middle Ages. However, it became popular as a first name after the semi-legendary Irish King Niall of the Nine Hostages in the fourth or fifth century. He was also the ancestor of the Uí Néill and MacNeil families.
In the early Middle Ages, Norse raiders and settlers picked this name and used it in the form of Njáll. The Norse people also took it to the Scandinavian countries. From there, it traveled to England and France. Many Britishers of Scandinavian origin bore this name.
Neil or Niall is said to be the root of the names Nelson, Nielsen, and Niles. As first names, some of the variants of Neil are Neal, Niallm, and Nigel, while its female version from Scottish is Neilina.
Neil being a popular name has made several appearances in pop culture. Neil was one of the main characters in the Rooster Teeth seriesCamp Camp. If you have watched Family Guy, you might recognizeNeil Goldman. Another Neil is the Boxtank engine inThe Railway Seriesby Rev. W.V. Awdry. Finally,Neil “The Good Looking”is a prominent character fromClass of the Titans.
How To Pronounce Neil?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Neil in English.
著名的People With The Name Neil
- NameProfession
- Neil ArmstrongAmerican astronaut and the first person to walk on the Moon
- Neil BuchananEnglish artist and musician, famous as the host of Art Attack
- Neil GaimanEnglish writer of novels, short stories, and comic books, known for his works The Sandman, Stardust, and Good Omens
- Neil deGrasse TysonAmerican astrophysicist, author, and science communicator, known for hosting Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
- Sam NeillNew Zealand actor, known for his roles in Jurassic Park and The Hunt for Red October
Neil On The Popularity Chart
Neil has been a popular name in the US. Check out the graphs below to find out how the name fared on popularity and ranking charts.
Popularity Over Time
Neil enjoyed its peak popularity in 1980, with 1,348 babies per million sharing this name. In 2021, only 358 babies per million were given this name.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Though a popular name, Neil has not entered the top 1000 names list in the US. In 1983, it ranked highest at 12,265. By 2007, this rank had dropped to 21,313. However, it is on the path to recovery and is ranked 18,263 in 2021.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Neil
If you liked the sweet sound of this name, here are some other names with a similar sound as Neil. Check them out.
Popular Sibling Names For Neil
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Neil, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Neil
Find matching brother names for Neil and create a wonderful team of siblings.
Naail
Naal
Nail
Nal
Nalak
Nalan
Nalankilli
Nalda
Naldo
Nalesh
Girl Sibling Names For Neil
Looking for some suitable sister names for Neil? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
Naaila
Nahla
Nahlah
Nahleejah
Nahlin
Naila
Nailadi
Nailah
Naile
Najla
Other Popular Names Beginning With N
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter N to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Neil
如果尼尔·g强劲的意义rabbed your attention, here are some other names with similar meanings. Scroll down!
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
neil
In Sign Language
neil
In Braille Alphabet
neil
In Morse Code
neil
Name Numerology For Neil
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Neil?
The name Neil means ‘champion’ or ‘fury.’
2. What is the origin of the name Neil?
Neil has an Irish and Gaelic origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Neil?
Neil is pronounced as neil.
4. Which is more common Neil or Neal?
Neal is a less common variation of the name Neil. The name Neil has been used more in places like Scotland, Ireland, the Uk, and the US. A famous namesake is American astraunaut Neil Armstrong.
5. What is the feminine version of Neil?
The name Neil is used for baby boys and doesn’t have a feminine variant. However, Neale is a variation of Neil and is a gender-neutral name. You can also use names that sound similar to Neil, such as Nell and Neela.
6. Can Neil be spelt Niel?
Yes, you can spell Neil in any way you want. Niel is also a variation of Neil and means ‘champion.’
7. Is Neil a Viking name?
Neil is a Gaelic name and was widely used by Vikings. They introduced it to Iceland as Nigel or Njáll. Nigel was later spread to places like Denmark, Norway, Normandy, Ireland, and Northern England.
8. Is Neil a Hebrew name?
Neil is originally an Irish name. But some believe that it is derived from the Hebrew term Nélā, which means ‘plant.’ The popularity of Neil in Israel further strengthens this theory.
