Nilson
Meaningson of Nils · Scandinavian
- US rank
- #7,194
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #4,239 in 1987
11 babies were named Nilson in the US in 2025. It has climbed 3,411 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1982–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Nilson you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Nilson
Nilson Angulo
Ecuadorian footballer
Choose Nilson and your child shares a first name with Nilson Angulo, an Ecuadorian footballer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Nilson, like who?” Nilson Angulo's Wikipedia article is available in 29 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Nilson Angulo on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 156,250 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Nilson, 11 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Nilson would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryNilson first shows up in US birth records in 1982, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 43 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1987, when it reached #4,239.
- TrendNilson has climbed 3,411 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #7,194. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn Scandinavian, Nilson means “son of Nils”.
About the name Nilson
Nilson is a boy name of English origin meaning “son of Nils”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with N and ending in “-son”. US birth records list Nilson for boys from 1982 to 2025, in 36 of those 44 years. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked #4,239 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #7,194, with 11 babies.
Origin:English names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.1 | 919,540 boys |
| 1990s | 3.5 | 282,486 boys |
| 2000s | 5.8 | 172,414 boys |
| 2010s | 5.9 | 168,634 boys |
| 2020s | 4.4 | 229,885 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Nilson
What does the name Nilson mean?
Nilson means “son of Nils” in Scandinavian.
What is the origin of the name Nilson?
Nilson has English roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Nilson a boy or girl name?
Nilson is a boy name.
How popular is the name Nilson?
Nilson ranked #7,194 for US boys in 2025, given to 11 babies. Its best year was 1987 (#4,239).