Nigel

Meaning: Dark, black
Origin: Latin — From Nigellus, a medieval form of Neil

Boy's name · #2088 in the US (2025) · 90s wave

Popularity over time

Nigel's best rank, #478, came in 1994; it has settled back to #2088 today. Roughly 12,000 boys have been named Nigel since 1929.

Across the states

See where Nigel is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 7 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Nigel ranks in other countries and regions.

#676 in Ireland (2025) · #2,653 in Ecuador (2025) · #2,789 in Canada (2025) · #3,684 in England & Wales (2025) · #565 in Netherlands (2020) · #3,110 in Austria (2018) · #5,891 in France (2016) · #1,383 in Belgium (2015) · #277 in N. Ireland (2000) · #385 in New Zealand (1999) · #425 in Scotland (1996) · #95 in Australia (QLD) (1979) and 1 more.

Famous Nigels

Nigel Farage — British politician (born 1964)
Nigel Mansell — British racing driver (born 1953)
Nigel de Jong — Dutch footballer (born 1984)
Nigel Short — English chess grandmaster (born 1965)
Nigel Hawthorne — British actor (1929–2001)
Nigel Kennedy — British-born violinist and violist (born 1956)
Nigel Reo-Coker — English footballer (born 1984)

In stories & tradition

Nigel Wolpert — Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
Nigel Pinchley — Family Guy (TV series)
Nigel Tufnel — This Is Spinal Tap (film)

What Nigels become

Among 1,104 notable people named Nigel:

Sports figures appear 1.33× more often than among typical names — e.g. Nigel Mansell, British racing driver (born 1953).

Similar names: Donte · Nivaan · Cordell · Tyrell · Terrell · Nickolas

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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