Nelia: 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	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	82	8	–	#608
1890s	80	8	-2%	#891
1900s	93	9	+16%	#960
1910s	119	12	+28%	#1,486
1920s	133	13	+12%	#1,933
1930s	122	12	-8%	#1,952
1940s	112	11	-8%	#2,501
1950s	113	11	+1%	#2,743
1960s	87	9	-23%	#3,560
1970s	138	14	+59%	#3,395
1980s	72	7	-48%	#5,795
1990s	67	7	-7%	#8,320
2000s	108	11	+61%	#7,718
2010s	163	16	+51%	#5,615
2020s (to 2025)	91	15	-7%	#6,259

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#608

1890s

-2%

#891

1900s

+16%

#960

1910s

119

+28%

#1,486

1920s

133

+12%

#1,933

1930s

122

-8%

#1,952

1940s

112

-8%

#2,501

1950s

113

+1%

#2,743

1960s

-23%

#3,560

1970s

138

+59%

#3,395

1980s

-48%

#5,795

1990s

-7%

#8,320

2000s

108

+61%

#7,718

2010s

163

+51%

#5,615

2020s (to 2025)

-7%

#6,259

The story of Nelia

Nelia is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #7,787 in 2025 with 14 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 1,580 American babies have been named Nelia. Its peak came in 2015, when 24 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

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 Nelia stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nelia?

The median living Nelia is about 41 years old; half are between 14 and 62. An estimated 900 people named Nelia 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.

Nelia year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	14	#7,787
2024	19	#6,335
2023	13	#8,372
2022	17	#6,913
2021	9	#10,887
2020	19	#6,259
2019	10	#10,270
2018	11	#9,637
2017	22	#5,775
2016	16	#7,510
2015	24	#5,615
2014	15	#7,959
2013	19	#6,657
2012	15	#8,105
2011	14	#8,511
2010	17	#7,426
2009	13	#9,262
2008	11	#10,599
2007	11	#10,623
2006	11	#10,409
2005	12	#9,288
2004	10	#10,476
2003	10	#10,220
2002	14	#7,718
2001	8	#11,751
2000	8	#11,495
1995	8	#10,229
1990	10	#8,320
1985	9	#7,369
1980	12	#5,795
1975	17	#3,889
1970	19	#3,395
1965	6	#6,299
1960	5	#7,033
1955	15	#3,057
1950	15	#2,743
1945	9	#3,320
1940	12	#2,532
1935	12	#2,536
1930	13	#2,522
1925	12	#2,892
1920	21	#1,933
1915	22	#1,602
1910	11	#1,486
1905	10	#1,279
1900	8	#1,527
1895	8	#1,269
1890	9	#986
1885	6	#1,013
1880	5	#909

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nelia?

The median living Nelia is about 41 years old. Half of all living Nelias are between 14 and 62 years old.

How many people named Nelia are alive today?

An estimated 900 people named Nelia are alive in the United States, based on 1,580 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Nelia mean?

Nelia is a feminine given name.

How popular is the name Nelia in 2025?

Nelia ranked #7,787 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 14 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nelia?

1,580 babies have been named Nelia in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nelia most popular?

Nelia peaked in 2015, when 24 newborns received the name.

Is Nelia a boy or girl name?

Nelia is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Nelia rising or falling?

Nelia has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Nelia

Nelia popularity over time

The story of Nelia

How old are people named Nelia?

Nelia year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Nelia