Niels
Fact sheet
- Name
- Niels
- Gender
- Boy name
- Syllables
- 1
Niels represents the Danish and Norwegian variant of the name Nikolaus and thus means 'victory of the people'. This meaning is derived from the Ancient Greek word nike for 'victory' and laos for 'people'. The spelling Niels is particularly widespread in Denmark and Norway.
What does the name Niels mean?
Niels is the Danish and Norwegian derivation of the name Nikolaus, which means 'victory of the people'. The roots of the name can be found in Ancient Greek, where nike means 'victory' and laos means 'people'. While Niels is common in Denmark and Norway, the short form Nils is more popular in Sweden and Germany. Additionally, Niels is also known in the Netherlands and in northern Germany, where it is considered an old short form of Cornelius.
Where does the name Niels come from?
The name Niels has its origin as the Danish and Norwegian form of Nikolaus, which goes back to the Ancient Greek Nikolaos. The roots lie in the words 'nike' for 'victory' and 'laos' for 'people'. The languages in which the name occurs include Danish, Dutch, Low German, Norwegian, and other Scandinavian languages.
How do you pronounce Niels?
The pronunciation of the name Niels is monosyllabic and has a Nordic character. In German pronunciation, it is usually pronounced as 'Nils' [niːls]. The name begins with a long I sound that conveys brightness. The combination '-ls' gives the name a clear and slightly tense structure, making it sound factual and tradition-conscious – calm, down-to-earth, and yet present.
When is the name day of Niels?
The name day for Niels is celebrated on December 6, the day of Saint Nicholas of Myra.
Popularity
In Germany, Niels is one of the fairly popular first names. Currently, it ranks 1,046th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best placement was in 2004, when it reached 173rd place. In the last ten years, Niels has been given as a first name around 470 times, which earned it 913th place in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it is ranked 729th.
Nicknames & pet names
Nials / Nieler / Nieli / Nielsi / Nihelz / Niles / Nili / Nille / Nilli / Nillu / Nilus
Similar first names
Famous people
- Niels Albert (Belgian cyclist)
- Niels Andersen (Danish actor)
- Niels Bjerre (painter from Denmark)
- Niels Bjorn Larsen (ballet dancer from Denmark)
- Niels Bohr (physicist)
- Niels Bruno Schmidt (actor from Germany)
- Niels Ellegaard (Danish actor)
- Niels Frederic Hoffmann (German composer)
- Niels Frederiksen (Danish football manager)
- Niels Frevert (singer)
- Niels Hansen Jacobsen (Danish artist)
- Niels Hemmingsen (Danish theologian)
- Niels Henrik Abel (mathematician)
- Niels Henrik David Bohr (physicist)
- Niels Holgersson (cartoon character)
- Niels Jacob Laache (Norwegian writer)
- Niels Kristian Hansen (guitarist with Revolverheld)
- Niels Littooij (Dutch singer)
- Niels Low (Danish athlete)
- Niels Markussen (sailor)
Frequently asked questions about the name Niels
What is the meaning of the name Niels?
Niels is the Danish and Norwegian form of the name Nikolaus, which means 'victory of the people'. The roots lie in Ancient Greek, where 'nike' stands for 'victory' and 'laos' for 'people'.
Where does the name Niels come from?
Niels has its origin as a Danish and Norwegian variant of Nikolaus and goes back to the Ancient Greek Nikolaos. It is widespread in Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, and other Scandinavian languages.
How popular is the name Niels?
Niels is particularly common in Denmark and Norway. In Sweden and Germany, the short form Nils is more widespread, while the name is also known in the Netherlands and in northern Germany as an old short form of Cornelius.