Nels is a name of Scandinavian origin, specifically from the Nordic countries of Norway and Sweden. It is a shortened form of the name Niels or Nils, which are both derived from the Old Norse name Nikulas. This name has its roots in Greek and means "victory of the people."
The name Nels was popularized by the Danish king, King Niels (also known as Niels I), who ruled Denmark during the 12th century. However, it is important to note that this name has been used throughout Scandinavian history and was not limited to just this particular monarch.
Over time, the name Nels has spread beyond its original Scandinavian roots and can now be found in various countries around the world. While it may not be as widely recognized as some other names, it remains a unique and distinctive choice for parents looking for a name with historical significance and a connection to Nordic culture.
The name Nels has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States, with a total of 3801 births recorded since 1880.
From 1880 to around the late 1920s, the name was fairly popular, with peaks such as 56 births in 1915 and 65 births in 1918. However, it started to decline in popularity during the Great Depression era (late 1920s to early 1930s), reaching a low of 24 births in 1932.
The name Nels continued to maintain relatively low popularity throughout the mid-20th century, with fewer than 50 births per year on average from the 1940s to the 1960s. There were brief spikes during this period, such as 55 births in 1955 and 48 births in 1953.
Since the 1970s, the popularity of the name Nels has remained quite low but somewhat stable, with fewer than 30 births per year on average. There have been a few years with notable increases, such as 43 births in 1980 and 37 births in 1976. Most recently, there were 23 births in 2022 and 19 births in 2023.
In summary, while the name Nels has seen fluctuations in popularity over time, it has generally been a less common choice among parents in the United States. Its popularity peaked around the early 20th century but has since declined and stabilized at low levels.