Masculine dossier · first seen 1880
Nels
Resurgent
Gaining cultural share
Peak era
1918
Peak births
65
Current vitality
Rare
Peak generation
Greatest Generation
1880Peak 19182025
Quick answers about Nels
How many people are named Nels?
An estimated 1,863 living Americans are named Nels.
How rare is Nels?
Nels is very rare among babies today, with 22 boys receiving the name in 2025, down 66.2% from its 1918 peak.
How old is the typical Nels?
The median age of a living American named Nels is approximately 53 years, with most bearers falling between 34 and 69 years old.
Is Nels still popular?
Yes — Nels is currently rising in popularity, with 22 births in 2025. Births this decade are running about 1.4× higher than the previous decade.
Peak year
1918
Decline from peak
66.2%
2025
22
All-time
3,841