US Popularity Rank: 1684

Origin: Celtic

Meaning: Champion; Passion; Cloud

Neil is a boy's name of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized version of Niall, which means "champion," "passionate," or even possibly "cloud." The name made its way to Irish shores in the form of Njall with the arrival of the Normans. In Scotland, Neil is a derivative of the surname McNeill. But this name’s historical significance doesn’t end with the Gaels. Famous people called Neil include first man on the moon Neil Armstrong and renowned singer-songwriter, Neil Young. With a name like Neil, you can teach baby to be their own champion and to honor their deeply rooted heritage in one fell swoop.