Neil is a distinctive choice, ranked #968 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Neil in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#968
US Rank #863
About the Name Neil
Neil is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 463 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #232 in 1996 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Neil is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #863, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Neil
Unlikely. With around 32 UK babies named Neil per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Neil in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Neil is currently rising in popularity in the UK, up 463 places over the last five years to #968 in 2024. If this trend continues, it will become more common in classrooms over the next decade.
Neil is more popular in the US (#863) than in the UK (#968). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Neil include: Andrew Neil — Andrew Ferguson Neil is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster.; Neil Brown Jr. — Cornelius C.; Neil Siegel — Neil Gilbert Siegel is an American computer scientist and computer engineer, known for his development of many key systems for the United States military,....
Neil ranks #863 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
32
UK babies named Neil (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↑ 463 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Neil
Likely around 1 other Neil in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Neil
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Neil Hamilton may refer to: Neil Hamilton (actor), American actor Neil Hamilton (politician), British politician, former Senedd member and leader of UKIP Neil Hamilton (lawyer) (fl.
Neil Gilbert Siegel is an American computer scientist and computer engineer, known for his development of many key systems for the United States military, including the Blue-Force Tracking system, the U.S. Army's first unmanned air vehicle system, and the US Army forward-area air defense system.
Philip Neil Hope, better known and credited as Neil Hope, was a Canadian actor who was best known for portraying Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on the CBC teen drama series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High from 1987 to 1991, and Robin "Griff" Griffiths in The Kids of Degrassi Street from 1985 to 1986. After Degrassi High concluded in 1991, Hope struggled with alcoholism and diabetes, and often lacked money.