The baby name Niels is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /niːls/ (NEELS).
The baby name Niels is a Male name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /niːls/ (NEELS).
Niels is Danish, Dutch, Norwegian in Origin.
Niels is the Danish and Dutch form of Nicholas, from Greek Nikolaos (nike "victory" + laos "people"), meaning "victory of the people." It spread across Scandinavia and the Low Countries through medieval devotion to Saint Nicholas; medieval Danish and Dutch records attest the name, and it remained steady through the Reformation.
Today Niels is most common in Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Flanders, with notable bearers such as physicist Niels Bohr, mathematician Niels Henrik Abel, and composer Niels Gade. Variants and cognates include Nils (Swedish/Norwegian), Niklas/Niclas (German/Scandinavian), Dutch Nicolaas/Nicolaes, and the nickname Nisse in Scandinavia. In Dutch usage Niels can also serve as a short form of Cornelis/Cornelius, giving the name a dual lineage. The name’s quiet strength and scholarly associations make it a timeless choice.
| Niels Niels was a King of Denmark, reigning from 1104 to 1134. He is most famous for his long rule during a turbulent period in Danish history. His reign was marked by internal conflicts and power struggles, which eventually led to his downfall. | Niels Arestrup Niels Arestrup is a French actor best known for his roles in films like 'A Prophet' and 'The Beat That My Heart Skipped'. Born in 1949, he has become a prominent figure in French cinema, often portraying complex characters with depth and intensity. | Niels Schneider Niels Schneider is a Canadian actor best known for his role in the film 'Heartbeats' directed by Xavier Dolan. Born in 1987, he has also appeared in 'I Killed My Mother' and 'Gemini.' |
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK | Boys | 0 | #30 | 1,725 | 7,401 |
| NA | 0 | #33 | 1 | 2,537 | |
| NL | Boys | 0 | #38 | 10,568 | 5,873 |
| DK | 0 | #41 | 302 | 5,198 | |
| NL | 0 | #42 | 628 | 2,481 | |
| LU | 0 | #66 | 1 | 2,830 | |
| CN | 0 | #86 | 1 | 3,857 | |
| LT | 0 | #88 | 1 | 949 | |
| TW | 0 | #102 | 2 | 4,523 | |
| OM | 0 | #121 | 1 | 6,215 | |
| EE | Boys | 0 | #125 | 1 | 2,087 |
| Norway | Boys | 2025 | #130 | 5 | 444 |
| Switzerland | Boys | 2024 | #132 | 6 | 1,769 |
| LT | Boys | 0 | #151 | 1 | 2,166 |
| HU | Boys | 0 | #174 | 1 | 3,954 |
| Sweden | Boys | 2022 | #180 | 3 | 1,509 |
| Belgium | Boys | 2019 | #185 | 23 | 404 |
| CZ | 0 | #186 | 1 | 3,154 | |
| LU | Boys | 0 | #208 | 11 | 4,970 |
| SI | Boys | 0 | #211 | 1 | 3,402 |
| IR | 0 | #231 | 1 | 4,221 | |
| SG | 0 | #281 | 2 | 11,010 | |
| Canada | Boys | 2024 | #301 | 6 | 2,588 |
| JP | Boys | 0 | #301 | 3 | 7,909 |
| CZ | Boys | 0 | #304 | 2 | 6,530 |
| SA | 0 | #312 | 1 | 10,560 | |
| PE | 0 | #323 | 7 | 6,350 | |
| DK | Girls | 0 | #325 | 5 | 7,429 |
| CN | Boys | 0 | #327 | 5 | 9,639 |
| France | Boys | 2021 | #334 | 54 | 2,865 |
| MY | 0 | #353 | 2 | 12,352 | |
| HK | 0 | #357 | 1 | 8,483 | |
| BR | 0 | #359 | 2 | 5,969 | |
| CN | Girls | 0 | #359 | 1 | 8,829 |
| GH | Boys | 0 | #360 | 2 | 8,138 |
| Germany | Boys | 0 | #369 | 899 | 5,697 |
| Germany | 0 | #372 | 66 | 2,542 | |
| PT | Boys | 0 | #378 | 4 | 7,951 |
| BO | 0 | #407 | 2 | 6,868 | |
| PH | Boys | 0 | #408 | 1 | 11,440 |
| UY | Boys | 0 | #410 | 4 | 5,922 |
| EG | 0 | #411 | 2 | 6,387 | |
| Austria | Boys | 0 | #423 | 20 | 2,180 |
| CL | 0 | #434 | 1 | 6,867 | |
| MX | 0 | #443 | 3 | 8,339 | |
| CR | Boys | 0 | #472 | 16 | 10,188 |
| ZA | 0 | #474 | 1 | 14,421 | |
| AR | Boys | 0 | #483 | 1 | 7,628 |
| GT | Boys | 0 | #498 | 2 | 7,625 |
| PA | Boys | 0 | #502 | 4 | 9,305 |
| HK | Boys | 0 | #553 | 5 | 12,905 |
| PS | Boys | 0 | #561 | 1 | 10,655 |
| IR | Boys | 0 | #563 | 3 | 10,162 |
| CM | Boys | 0 | #575 | 1 | 12,054 |
| BO | Boys | 0 | #581 | 12 | 9,244 |
| BH | 0 | #587 | 1 | 17,937 | |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #597 | 1 | 20,968 |
| IL | Boys | 0 | #625 | 1 | 10,983 |
| Finland | Boys | 2026 | #646 | 37 | 3,552 |
| BO | Girls | 0 | #651 | 1 | 9,488 |
| CL | Boys | 0 | #654 | 12 | 13,390 |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #684 | 14 | 17,960 |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #696 | 2 | 13,071 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #739 | 5 | 18,093 |
| PE | Boys | 0 | #758 | 121 | 14,506 |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #785 | 1 | 12,213 |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #805 | 2 | 18,755 |
| TN | 0 | #864 | 2 | 13,765 | |
| United States | Boys | 2024 | #880 | 13 | 7,044 |
| Spain | Boys | 0 | #905 | 26 | 5,610 |
| OM | Boys | 0 | #918 | 1 | 17,948 |
| EG | Boys | 0 | #923 | 3 | 15,035 |
| NL | Girls | 0 | #928 | 28 | 5,933 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #971 | 12 | 16,355 |
| CO | Boys | 0 | #977 | 5 | 15,656 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #1,000 | 2 | 16,906 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #1,008 | 3 | 14,861 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #1,039 | 1 | 16,750 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #1,072 | 1 | 24,821 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,083 | 10 | 22,615 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,164 | 15 | 25,619 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,174 | 9 | 25,439 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,236 | 1 | 25,928 |
| TR | 0 | #1,253 | 2 | 19,440 | |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,267 | 1 | 17,781 |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,431 | 41 | 10,046 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,686 | 6 | 28,008 |
Niels is popular in 58 countries — most recent births per country:
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