Neely

♀ Girl

Pronounced NEE-lee /ˈni.li/High

Meaning: From the Irish surname (Mac)Neely — 'descendant of Niall', from Gaelic Niall, 'champion; cloud; passionate'; here for girls; routes layeredLow

In 30 seconds: A champion: Neely ties to Niall via the surname — 'a champion'. Crisp, sunny, and warm. Used for both sexes.

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Origin LowIrish, Gaelic

MeaningFrom the Irish surname (Mac)Neely — 'descendant of Niall', from Gaelic Niall, 'champion; cloud; passionate'; here for girls; routes layered

U.S. rank (2025)#4144 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births35 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1974

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,237

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Neely comes from the Irish/Scottish surname (Mac)Neely/McNeilly, 'descendant of Niall' — from Gaelic Niall, with a debated meaning, variously 'champion', 'cloud', or 'passionate, fervent' (routes layered, which we note). A crisp, sunny, modern surname-name, used for both sexes, here for girls; nickname Nee.

It registers thinly in records. Rare, a-champion at the root, and sunny.

Did you know? Neely comes from the Irish surname (Mac)Neely, 'descendant of Niall' — Niall meaning variously 'champion', 'cloud', or 'passionate' — a crisp, sunny surname-name, used for both sexes (the routes are layered, which we note).

Overall data confidence 55%

References — Neely / Niall — routes layered

Variations

NealyNeeleyNeely

Nicknames

Nee

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Neely…

Keely— a sound-neighbor Irish girls' name

Neila— a companion Irish girls' name

Nelle— another Ne- girls' name

Tully— a similarly popular pick

Keily— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Neely

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Neely mean?

Neely ties to the surname (Mac)Neely, 'descendant of Niall' — 'champion; cloud; passionate'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Neely?

It's said NEE-lee /ˈni.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Neely a boy or girl name?

Neely is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.

How popular is Neely?

Neely is a rare name in the U.S.