Neil

Meaning of Neil

Champion; passionate

Neil has Irish, Gaelic roots — browse every Irish, Gaelic baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Neil

Neil is climbing again, up to #851 in 2025 from #863 in 2024 after peaking at #495 in 2000.

Notable people named Neil

• Neil Armstrong
  First man on moon
• Neil Patrick Harris
  Actor, comedian, magician
• Neil Young
  Musician, singer-songwriter
• Neil Gaiman
  Author of fantasy fiction
• Neil deGrasse Tyson
  Astrophysicist, science communicator

More Irish, Gaelic names

Questions about the name Neil

What does the name Neil mean?

Neil means champion; passionate, and it comes from Irish, Gaelic origins.

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

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

How popular is the name Neil?

In 2025, Neil ranked #851 for boys, up from #863 the year before.

When was Neil most popular?

Neil peaked at #495 in 2000.