Neil is a distinctive choice, ranked #914 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Neil in their class.
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UK Rank 2025
#914
US Rank #851
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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 uncommon in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Neil in their class.
In the US it ranks even higher at #863, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
⭐ Famous People Named Neil
Andrew Neil — Andrew Ferguson Neil is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster.
Neil Hamilton — 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 Brown Jr. — Cornelius C. "Neil" Brown Jr., is an American actor.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Neil
Unlikely. With around 34 UK babies named Neil per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Neil in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Neil is rising: up 517 places since 2020, to #914 in 2025. Its best recorded position was #232 in 1996.
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, Neil Brown Jr. and Neil Siegel. Short summaries for each appear below.
Neil ranks #863 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
34
UK babies named Neil (2025)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↑ 517 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
Almost certainly the only Neil in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
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.
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.