Total births
1,462
Boys' name · since 1893
Niels
Niels has 1,462 recorded births since 1893 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1957 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #6213
- among boys today
- 1,462
- born since 1893
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 57%
- more common than other boys
1,462 babies have been named Niels since 1893, making it today's #6213 boys' name.
Social Security Administration records show Niels recorded 1,462 times among boys since 1893, holding rank #6213 nationally today, ahead of 57% of boys, peaking in the 1950s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1893 to 2025.
- #6213 among boys today
- 1,462 born since 1893
- 1950s peak decade
- 57% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Niels is currently the #6213 boys' name in America, more common than 57% of boys - 1,462 born since 1893, peaking in the 1950s.
- #6213
- among boys today
- 1,462
- born since 1893
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 57%
- more common than other boys
Niels vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6213
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 57% of names given to boys today.
1950s
Peak decade
12% of everyone ever named Niels was born in this single decade.
1957
Single peak year
31 babies were named Niels in 1957 - its busiest year on record.
How Niels compares
1,462 Top 25% higher than 75% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Niels's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Niels | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,462 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 31 | 23 | 22,252 |
Niels's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Niels's SSA record in two at 1968 and the more recent half accounts for 54% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 46%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1893, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1957 peak of 31, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Niels at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1957
Current rank
#6,213
Active since
1893
Niels popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1893–2025
- Peak year (1957)
- 31
- Annual births at peak, across 133 years of records
Niels by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Niels's strongest decade.
180 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 12% of all-time use.
Niels births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 5
1890s
5 births
- 1900s 5
1900s
5 births
- 1910s
1910s
79 births
- 1920s
1920s
110 births
- 1930s
1930s
86 births
- 1940s
1940s
92 births
- 1950s
1950s
180 births
- 1960s
1960s
156 births
- 1970s
1970s
138 births
- 1980s
1980s
128 births
- 1990s
1990s
132 births
- 2000s
2000s
124 births
- 2010s
2010s
151 births
- 2020s
2020s
76 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 180 births (12% of all-time use).
How Niels compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Niels's total volume
Niels vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Niels by state
Where Niels concentrates geographically, total births since 1893
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 67 | 4.6% |
| #2 | New York | | 18 | 1.2% |
| #3 | Utah | | 5 | 0.3% |
California share of Niels's total US births 4.6%
Even split
67 of 1,462 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Niels? ▼
Niels has been given to 1,462 babies in the U.S. since 1893, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #6213 as of the latest data. 31 babies were born in 1957, its single highest year.
When was Niels most popular? ▼
Niels was most popular in the 1950s decade with 180 total births. The single peak year was 1957.
Where is Niels most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Niels are California (67 births), New York (18 births), Utah (5 births).
How long has the name Niels been used? ▼
Records for Niels go back to 1893, giving 133 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Niels? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Niel, Nieves, Nieko, Niegel, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Niels's data
- Niels's usage has stayed within range of its 1950s decade-level peak (180 total births) through the 2020s (76) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Nielss (67 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Niels
Nearby Names Like Niels
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Niels
Niel Boy
1,384 births
Nieves Boy
595 births
Nieko Boy
#5770 325 births
Niegel Boy
29 births
Nieem Boy
25 births
Compare Niels side by side: Niels vs Niel Niels vs Nieves Niels vs Nieko
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Niels
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1893–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Niels: #6213 Boys' Name - 1,462 Births, Peak 1957." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/niels. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Niels draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.