Nealie is a unique and distinctive female given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish surname "Ó Niall," which means "descendant of Niall." Niall, in turn, means "champion" or "cloud" in Gaelic.
The name Nealie has a rich history dating back to ancient Ireland. It was the surname of an important Irish family, the O'Neills, who were rulers of the historic province of Ulster. The most famous member of this family was Niall Glúndub, who reigned as king of Aileach in the 10th century.
Nealie is not a particularly common name, which contributes to its uniqueness and appeal. It is often used as a pet form of the name Neala, which is also of Irish origin and means "cloud." Some variations of the name include Nealla, Niall, and Neala.
In summary, Nealie is a rare and distinctive female given name of Irish origin that means "descendant of Niall" or "champion." It has a rich history connected to ancient Irish royalty and offers a unique opportunity for parents looking for an uncommon yet meaningful name for their child.
The name Nealie has seen a varied pattern of usage over the years in the United States. The earliest recorded birth with this name was in 1880, with 6 occurrences that year.
Over the following decades, the number of births with the name Nealie fluctuated significantly. The peak years for the name were between 1915 and 1927, with a high of 22 births recorded in 1916. This period also saw a sustained increase in popularity, with double-digit occurrences from 1914 to 1927.
However, after 1927, the number of births with the name Nealie began to decline steadily. There were only single-digit occurrences each year until 1936, and then the numbers fell further. The 1940s saw a brief resurgence with 8 births in 1940 and 8 births in 1948, but this was not sustained.
From the 1950s to the present day, the name Nealie has been used very sparingly in the United States. There were only a handful of births recorded each year, with some years having no occurrences at all. The most recent data shows that there were 6 births in 2000, 6 births in 2002, and then a decline to 5 births per year from 2009 onwards.
In total, there have been 776 births with the name Nealie recorded in the United States since 1880. This data reflects the changing trends in naming practices over more than a century, with the name Nealie seeing periods of popularity followed by decline and obscurity. Despite its fluctuating usage, the name remains a part of American naming history.