Given name & surname · also Latin
Nigel
“the champion”
Nigel is a form of Niall. In Celtic use, Niall carries the interpretation “the champion.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Nigel carries the interpretation “the champion.” Nigel is a form of Niall. In Celtic use, Niall carries the interpretation “the champion.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
Nigel is used as a form of Niall.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nigel through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 12,371
- 12,286 boys · 85 girls
- Most popular year
- 1994
- 455 babies
- 2025
- 71
- #2,088 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −38%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 71 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,088 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 38.4% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 448 in 1994. In 2025, California and Florida shared the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (7 each). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 14,004 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.
Nigel’s family of names
In English usage, Nigel has a diminutive in NIG. Nigel has a feminine form in Nigelia. Nigel is a form of Niall.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Nigel has relatives in 4 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
7 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Neelyvariant · English
- Nigellvariant
- Nygelvariant
- Nijelvariant
- Niguelvariant
- Deneaudiminutive · English
- Nigeclipped form · English
- Nygellvariant
Show 3 moreShow fewer
Across languages 9
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Neelequivalent
- Niallbase name
- Nielequivalent
- Nigellafeminine form
- Найджелborrowing · Russian
- Nigeliafeminine form
- Nihelequivalent
- Njállroot · Old Norse
Show 1 moreShow fewer
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Nigel
- Nigel FarageBritish politicianborn 1964
- Sam NeillNew Zealand actor (1947–2026)
- Nigel MansellBritish racing driver (born 1953)
- Nigel de JongDutch association football player (born 1984)
- Nigel ShortEnglish chess player and writerborn 1965
- Nigel HawthorneBritish actor (1929–2001)
- Nigel Reo-CokerEnglish association football player (born 1984)
- Nigel KennedyBritish-born violinist and violist (born 1956)
- Nigel LawsonBritish peer and politician (1932–2023)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Nigel, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Brett
“woman of Britain or Brittany” · “a man from Britain or Brittany”
94% boys · 6% girls
Cade
“a precocious young woman” · “one who is round”
>99% boys
Antshel
>99% boys
Fedrick
Fedrick is a form of Cedric. One Welsh interpretation is “one who is kind and loved; of the spectacular bounty.”
>99% boys
Pierce
“as solid and strong as a rock”
96% boys · 4% girls
Holden
“one who is willing and eager” · “from the hollow in the valley”
99% boys · 1% girls
Clark
“a cleric; a clerk”
98% boys · 2% girls
Šekspīrs
Šekspīrs is a surname from English. It is used in Latvian.
—