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Neill

Boy name · 163 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Neill: 163 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 14 births in 1975.

The name Neill is a well-established variant of Neil, derived from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic Niall, a name whose meaning is debated but widely accepted as “champion” or “cloud.” This spelling is particularly associated with the Scottish clan O’Neill, whose surname itself originates from the same root. One of the most famous bearers of the Neill spelling was A. S. Neill, the progressive Scottish educator who founded Summerhill School, a landmark in child-centred learning. While no major places are named directly after a Neill, the name shares its heritage with many towns and streets bearing the O’Neill or Neil forms, especially in Northern Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. A notable variant is the Irish form Ó Néill, while in Scotland the spelling Neill often appears as both a given name and a surname, linking it to the ancient Uí Néill dynasty—a reminder of how this simple four-letter name connects to centuries of Gaelic history.