NEIL

Meaning

Neil is most commonly linked to the Irish Gaelic name Niall, which is usually explained as meaning “champion,” though some scholars have also connected it with older words for “cloud” or “passionate.” In Scottish usage, Neil is a familiar spelling of the same name, carried into English through Gaelic tradition. It has long been used as a straightforward, sturdy Christian-era given name in the English-speaking world.

Origin

Fun fact

The name spread widely through Scotland and Ireland, and later became especially familiar in English-speaking countries in the 19th and 20th centuries.