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At a Glance: Name: Neil – Meaning: champion (disputed, also linked to 'cloud' or 'passionate') – Origin: Irish – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: NEEL
Neil is an Irish name, said NEEL. Its meaning is debated — most trace it to "champion," though some link it to "cloud" or "passionate" instead. It has a clean, no-frills feel that fits right in among today's shorter, simpler names.
Meaning & Origin of Neil
Meaning: Champion (disputed, also linked to 'cloud' or 'passionate').
Origin: Irish.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Neil
Phonetic: NEEL IPA: /ˈniːl/
Popularity of Neil
Neil peaked at #146 in 1953, when 1,937 boys were given the name — by 2024 it had fallen to #863, with 278 boys named Neil that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Neil Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Neil, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Neil mean?
Champion (disputed, also linked to ‘cloud’ or ‘passionate’). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Neil)
How do you pronounce Neil?
Neil is pronounced NEEL (IPA: /ˈniːl/).
Is Neil a popular name right now?
Neil peaked at #146 in 1953 and is ranked #863 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Neil? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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