Neal

Meaning of Neal

Neal means 'champion'. It can also mean 'cloud'.

Neal has Irish roots — browse every Irish baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Neal

After ranking as high as #888 in 2000, Neal has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Neal

• Neal Adams
  Comic book artist
• Neal Stephenson
  Science fiction writer
• Neal McDonough
  Actor
• Neal Cassady
  Beat Generation icon
• Neal Hefti
  Jazz trumpeter and composer

More Irish names

Questions about the name Neal

What does the name Neal mean?

Neal means neal means 'champion'. it can also mean 'cloud', and it comes from Irish origins.

Is Neal a boy's or a girl's name?

Neal is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Neal?

Neal did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Neal most popular?

Neal peaked at #888 in 2000.