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How Many People Are Named Nell?
Estimated people named Nell living in the U.S. today
5,342
Gender distribution
0% male · 100% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 27,581
- Peak year: 1917 (766 births)
- Estimated living today: 5,342
Nell by age group — who carries the name today?
Nell popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Nell
Nell has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 27,581 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 5,342 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 63,984 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Nells you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Nell in the US?
An estimated 5,342 people named Nell are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Nell very rare — about 1 in 63,984 Americans.
Is Nell a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Nell is 0% male and 100% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Nell most popular?
Nell peaked in 1917, when 766 babies were given the name. Its current trend is rising compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Nell?
Nell ranks #3,494 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 56 out of 100 (higher means rarer).