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Nilson
How to Pronounce Nilson
Pronounced NIL-sən /ˈnɪl.sən/High
Meaning: From the Scandinavian surname Nilson — 'a son of Nils' (Nils being the Nordic Nicholas, 'victory of the people')Low
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
Nilson comes from the Scandinavian surname Nilson — 'a son of Nils', Nils being the Nordic form of Nicholas, from Greek 'victory of the people'. A crisp, distinguished surname-name, also common in Brazil (nickname Nil).
In the U.S. and Brazil it appears as a first and family name. Rare, a-son-of-Nils at the root, and distinguished.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Nilson mean?
Nilson is a Scandinavian surname — 'a son of Nils' (the Nordic Nicholas).
How do you pronounce Nilson?
It's said NIL-sən /ˈnɪl.sən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Nilson a boy or girl name?
Nilson is a boy's name.
How popular is Nilson?
Nilson is a rare name in the U.S.