Nelson is a name of English origin, derived from the Middle English word 'Nelleson', which was an old Norman personal name given to boys born with dark complexions or black hair. The name is composed of two Germanic elements: 'nell' meaning 'little' and 'hild' meaning 'battle'. Therefore, Nelson can be interpreted as meaning 'little battle'.
The name Nelson has been popular throughout history, particularly in the 19th century when it was given to many boys born in England. One of the most famous bearers of this name is Admiral Horatio Nelson, a British naval hero who played a significant role in the Battle of Trafalgar during the Napoleonic Wars. As a result of his heroic actions, the name Nelson became even more prominent and has been associated with bravery and leadership ever since.
In literature, the name Nelson appears in works such as Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist" and Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick". In both cases, the character named Nelson plays a supporting role but contributes significantly to the plot.
Today, Nelson remains a popular choice for boys' names in English-speaking countries. It is often shortened to 'Nels' or 'Nel' as a familiar form of address. Despite its historical associations with darkness and battle, Nelson has become synonymous with strength, courage, and determination – qualities that have been embodied by notable individuals throughout history who have borne this name.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Nelson has had a fluctuating popularity among parents in the United States over the past century.
The name first appeared with significant frequency between 1913 and 1927, with an average of around five births per year during this period. This suggests that Nelson was quite popular amongst parents during this time.
However, there was a notable spike in popularity between 1927 and 1936, with peaks at thirteen births in both 1927 and 1936. This indicates a significant trend towards the name Nelson during these years.
After the 1930s, the popularity of the name Nelson began to decline gradually. Between 1941 and 1980, there was an average of around six births per year, with peaks occurring occasionally, such as in 1970 (twelve births) and 1974 (eleven births).
From the late 1980s onwards, Nelson's popularity continued to decline. There were consistently fewer than ten births per year from 1987 to 2004, with many years seeing only five or six births.
In recent years, Nelson has maintained a consistent but low level of popularity in the United States. Between 2019 and 2023, there have been an average of around five births per year bearing the name Nelson.
Overall, while Nelson was quite popular among parents in the early to mid-20th century, its popularity has waned significantly in recent decades. Despite this decline, Nelson remains a name with a certain degree of enduring appeal, as evidenced by its continued appearance on birth records each year.