Nealy: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	12	–	12	1	–	#905
1890s	6	–	6	1	-50%	#1,642
1900s	18	–	18	2	+200%	#1,870
1910s	34	24	58	6	+222%	#2,733
1920s	27	27	54	5	-7%	#4,807
1930s	6	11	17	2	-69%	#4,027
1940s	–	16	16	2	-6%	–
1950s	6	5	11	1	-31%	#5,476
1960s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1970s	66	–	66	7	–	#3,775
1980s	31	–	31	3	-53%	#7,284
1990s	18	–	18	2	-42%	#12,858
2000s	40	–	40	4	+122%	#11,360
2010s	32	–	32	3	-20%	#11,588
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#905

1890s

–

-50%

#1,642

1900s

–

+200%

#1,870

1910s

+222%

#2,733

1920s

-7%

#4,807

1930s

-69%

#4,027

1940s

–

-6%

–

1950s

-31%

#5,476

1960s

–

1970s

–

#3,775

1980s

–

-53%

#7,284

1990s

–

-42%

#12,858

2000s

–

+122%

#11,360

2010s

–

-20%

#11,588

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Nealy

Nealy is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1884, 379 American babies have been named Nealy, about 78% girls and 22% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1976, when 18 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1970s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Nealy stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nealy?

The median living Nealy is about 43 years old; half are between 21 and 49. An estimated 200 people named Nealy are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Nealy year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	5	#17,294	–	–
2018	7	#13,417	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	9	#11,588	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	5	#18,778	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	6	#16,392	–	–
2009	8	#13,344	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	6	#17,002	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	5	#18,388	–	–
2004	9	#11,360	–	–
2003	5	#17,625	–	–
2002	7	#13,227	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	5	#11,581	–	–
1975	13	#4,770	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	5	#3,637
1940	–	–	–	–
1935	–	–	–	–
1930	–	–	–	–
1925	6	#4,807	6	#4,054
1920	–	–	–	–
1915	6	#4,110	–	–
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	5	#2,146	–	–
1900	6	#1,870	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Nealy, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Nealy?

The median living Nealy is about 43 years old. Half of all living Nealys are between 21 and 49 years old.

How many people named Nealy are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Nealy are alive in the United States, based on 379 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nealy in 2025?

Nealy did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Nealy?

379 babies have been named Nealy in the United States since 1884, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nealy most popular?

Nealy peaked in 1976, when 18 newborns received the name.

Is Nealy a boy or girl name?

Nealy is used for both: about 78% of babies named Nealy have been girls and 22% boys.

Is the name Nealy rising or falling?

Nealy is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Nealy

Nealy popularity over time

The story of Nealy

How old are people named Nealy?

Nealy year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Nealy