Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2007

Nilson

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #7,536
Rank 2025
#7,536
among boys · ↓1,154 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
11
named Nilson
How common
1 in 155,280
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2007
17 babies
All-time total
356
#9,665 all-time among boys
First recorded
1982
in Social Security records

Nilson popularity over time

356 babies have been named Nilson since 1982, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
00.010.010.0118801900192019401960198020002020Peak 2019Boys

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 Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s – – – –
1920s – – – –
1930s – – – –
1940s – – – –
1950s – – – –
1960s – – – –
1970s – – – –
1980s 16 2 – #4,481
1990s 68 7 +325% #5,245
2000s 116 12 +71% #5,245
2010s 111 11 -4% #5,499
2020s (to 2025) 45 8 -32% #6,382

The story of Nilson

Nilson is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,536 in 2025 with 11 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1982, 356 American babies have been named Nilson. Its peak came in 2007, when 17 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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

How old are people named Nilson?

The median living Nilson is about 17 years old; half are between 9 and 25. An estimated 400 people named Nilson are alive in the United States today.

median 17 020406080100

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

Nilson year by year

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

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 11 #7,536
2024 14 #6,382
2023 8 #9,502
2022 6 #11,886
2021 – –
2020 6 #11,584
2019 17 #5,499
2018 14 #6,239
2017 6 #11,785
2016 14 #6,254
2015 11 #7,399
2014 8 #9,379
2013 10 #7,934
2012 11 #7,400
2011 12 #6,881
2010 8 #9,425
2009 11 #7,562
2008 15 #5,982
2007 17 #5,362
2006 10 #7,843
2005 9 #8,112
2004 9 #7,990
2003 11 #6,594
2002 12 #5,970
2001 8 #8,096
2000 14 #5,245
1995 10 #5,785
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 – –
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 – –
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 – –
1935 – –
1930 – –
1925 – –
1920 – –
1915 – –
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Nilson

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Nilson Loyola Nilson Loyola Peruvian footballer (born 1994) Contemporary
  2. 2 Nilson Ricardo da Silva Júnior Brazilian footballer b. 1989 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nilson?

The median living Nilson is about 17 years old. Half of all living Nilsons are between 9 and 25 years old.

How many people named Nilson are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Nilson are alive in the United States, based on 356 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nilson in 2025?

Nilson ranked #7,536 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 11 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nilson?

356 babies have been named Nilson in the United States since 1982, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nilson most popular?

Nilson peaked in 2007, when 17 newborns received the name.

Is Nilson a boy or girl name?

Nilson is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Nilson rising or falling?

Nilson is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Nilson?

Well-known people named Nilson include Nilson Loyola (soccer player), Nilson Ricardo da Silva Júnior (soccer player).

Names like Nilson

Names that sound and feel close to Nilson: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Nilson with similar names → More names starting with N →