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👍 Niels
♂ Boy
How to Pronounce Niels
Pronounced NEELS
🔊 Hear it /ˈnils/ High ⧉ copy
Meaning: A Danish form of Nicholas — from Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'the people') Low ⧉ copy
In 30 seconds: Victory of the people: Niels is the Danish Nicholas — 'victory of the people'. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'NEELS').
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Meaning A Danish form of Nicholas — from Greek Nikolaos, 'victory of the people' (nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'the people')
U.S. rank (2025) #6060 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births 15 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year 1957
Total births (all-time) ≈ 1,446
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Shop mom essentials Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data peak 1957 1893 2025 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 Niels is a Danish form of Nicholas — from the Greek Nikolaos , 'victory of the people' (nike , 'victory', plus laos , 'the people'). Borne by the great physicist Niels Bohr. A crisp, classic Scandinavian name (said 'NEELS'; nickname Niel).
In the U.S. it appears in Danish families. Rare, victory-of-the-people at the root, and classic.
Did you know? Nicholas means 'victory of the people' in Greek (nike, 'victory', plus laos, 'the people') — Niels is its crisp Danish form, borne by the physicist Niels Bohr (said 'NEELS').
Overall data confidence 58%
References — Niels — Danish form of Nicholas
Variations Nicholas Nils Nielsen
Nicknames Niel
Famous Bearers Famous bearers coming soon. If you like Niels… Nils — a kin Scandinavian form Niall — a sound-neighbor Ni- boys' name Klaus — a fellow Nicholas-rooted European boys' name Anders — another Scandinavian boys' name Frequently Asked What does the name Niels mean? Niels is the Danish Nicholas — Greek 'victory of the people'.
How do you pronounce Niels? It's said NEELS /ˈnils/ — one syllable.
Is Niels a boy or girl name? Niels is a boy's name.
How popular is Niels? Niels is a rare name in the U.S.
