Ray vs Nelson

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ray

Boy #777 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"wise protector"

Origin: Germanic

English American French

✓ All Clear

Boy #778 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"son of Neil, son of the champion"

Origin: English

English American Welsh Irish

✓ All Clear

Ray Rank #777

Nelson Rank #778

Ray is more popular, ranked #777 vs #778 for Nelson.

Is Ray or Nelson more popular?

Ray is more popular, ranked #777 compared to Nelson at #778 in the United States.

What do Ray and Nelson mean?

Ray means "wise protector" (Germanic origin). Nelson means "son of Neil, son of the champion" (English origin).

Are Ray and Nelson boy or girl names?

Ray is primarily a boy name. Nelson is primarily a boy name.