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How Many People Are Named Nelson?
Estimated people named Nelson living in the U.S. today
51,116
Gender distribution
99% male · 1% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 79,829
- Peak year: 1959 (1,083 births)
- Estimated living today: 51,116
Nelson by age group — who carries the name today?
Nelson popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Nelson
Nelson has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 79,829 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 51,116 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 6,687 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Nelsons 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 Nelson in the US?
An estimated 51,116 people named Nelson are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Nelson rare — about 1 in 6,687 Americans.
Is Nelson a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Nelson is 99% male and 1% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Nelson most popular?
Nelson peaked in 1959, when 1,083 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Nelson?
Nelson ranks #894 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 45 out of 100 (higher means rarer).