Nils
Nils is outside the top 1,000 in 2024, with 20 births. Its best rank was 889th, in 1888.
- Rank in 2024
- —outside the top 1,000
- Births in 2024
- 200.00% of boys
- Peak year
- 197048 births
- Best rank
- #889in 1888
- Since 1888
- 3,061people given the name
The story in the numbers
3,061 boys have been named Nils in the United States since 1888, according to Social Security records. The busiest single year was 1970, with 48 births.
It is holding steady: its share of births has moved by less than half in either direction over ten years.
Half of everyone given the name was born by 1968, and the 1960s alone account for 11%. It has spent 1 of 145 years in the top 1,000.
Rank among boys, year by year
By decade
| Decade | boys named Nils | |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 7 | |
| 1900s | 6 | |
| 1910s | 143 | |
| 1920s | 195 | |
| 1930s | 286 | |
| 1940s | 272 | |
| 1950s | 316 | |
| 1960s | 351 | |
| 1970s | 310 | |
| 1980s | 276 | |
| 1990s | 315 | |
| 2000s | 265 | |
| 2010s | 226 | |
| 2020s | 93 |
In 1970, its biggest year
Nils was outside the top 1,000 that year. The top five boys’ names of 1970 were Michael, James, David, John and Robert. See all of 1970.
Names that rose and fell with Nils
Same sex, most similar popularity curve over 145 years, in five-year steps — the shape of the line, not the size.
- Anselmopeak 1990
- Modestopeak 1927
- Evaristopeak 1971
- Kennardpeak 1954
- Rosendopeak 1993
- Eloypeak 1993
- Doranpeak 1954
- Sheldonpeak 1992
What this page does not tell you. The Social Security data records how many babies were given a name, not what the name means or where it comes from — so neither do we. Counts cover people with a Social Security number; names given to fewer than five babies in a year are withheld. More on the data.