Nilson
Every Nilson since 1982 — 356 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
- Nilson Ricardo da Silva Júnior Soccer player · b. 1989
- Nilson Loyola Soccer player · b. 1994
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
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 Ricardo da Silva Júnior (soccer player), Nilson Loyola (soccer player).