Nigel

Nigel: name meaning, origin & popularity

Meaning: “champion”
Origin: Latin
Say it: NY-jəl · 2 syllables
Used for: Boys

Nigel developed in medieval usage from Latin Nigellus, used for Gaelic names such as Niall. It became established in English and Norman-French contexts.

English names French names Names meaning strength Classic names Vintage names International names

How popular is Nigel?

202419.8 per million US babies

Drag the line or the slider to read any year. Values are per million US births recorded by Social Security. Records before about 1937 undercount births, so early peaks can look taller than they were.

Compare with another name

Babies named Nigel in 202466

2024 rank#2,187 boys

Peak year1994

Total US babies since 188012,296

Nigel is fading: recent use is about 46% of its level ten years before.

Names like Nigel

Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.

Lucasfrom Lucania · Latin
Leolion · Latin
Julianyouthful, downy-bearded · Latin
Anthonyof the Antonius family · Latin
RomanRoman, from Rome · Latin
Bennettblessed · Latin
Adrianfrom Hadria · Latin
Christianfollower of Christ · Latin

Nigel questions

What does the name Nigel mean?

Nigel means "champion". It comes from Latin. Nigel developed in medieval usage from Latin Nigellus, used for Gaelic names such as Niall. It became established in English and Norman-French contexts.

Is Nigel a boy or girl name?

Nigel is mainly a boy's name in US records (99% of uses since 1880).

How popular is Nigel?

66 US babies were named Nigel in 2024. Its peak year was 1994.

How do you pronounce Nigel?

Nigel is usually pronounced NY-jəl.

Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.