Given name & surname
Nelia
“referring to a horn”·“a champion”
In Norwegian use, Nelia is a short form of Kornelia. In Polish use, Kornelia carries the interpretation “referring to a horn.” Nelia is a variant of Neala. In Gaelic use, Neala carries the interpretation “a champion.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Norwegian use, Nelia is a short form of Kornelia. In Polish use, Kornelia carries the interpretation “referring to a horn.” Nelia is a variant of Neala. In Gaelic use, Neala carries the interpretation “a champion.”
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Norwegian usage, Nelia is a short form of Kornelia.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nelia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,580
- 0 boys · 1,580 girls
- Most popular year
- 2015
- 24 babies
- 2025
- 14
- #7,787 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −8%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 14 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 7,787 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 7.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 24 in 2015. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,315 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nelia’s family of names
In Norwegian usage, Nelia is a short form of Kornelia. Nelia has a related form in Neala.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Nelia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Norah
In English use, Norah is a diminutive of Honora. One Latin interpretation is “having a good name and integrity; an honorable woman.”
>99% girls
Malia
“Mary” · “calm”
>99% girls
Natalia
Natalia is a variant of Natalie. One Latin interpretation is “born on Christmas Day; refers to Christ's birthday.”
>99% girls
Lydia
“woman from Lydia” · “a beautiful woman from Lydia”
>99% girls
Evelynn
“a birdlike woman” · “a birdlike man”
>99% girls
Talia
“morning dew from heaven” · “blooming”
>99% girls
Adelyn
Adelyn is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Eliza
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls