UK boy's name
Neco
An Old English name meaning "kinsman" or "nephew".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Neco is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Neco popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3688, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 18 births.
This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2002 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 28% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 64 living people in the UK are called Neco. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Neco ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 18 boys were registered as Neco.
- • About 64 living people in the UK are estimated to have Neco as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3688
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2021
18 births
Estimated living
64
2026
Meaning
What does Neco mean?
The name Neco has its origins in the ancient Egyptian culture, dating back to the 7th century BC. It is derived from the Egyptian word "nkw," which means "to be strong" or "to be victorious." This name was often given to male children with the hope that they would grow up to be strong and victorious leaders.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Neco can be found in the biblical book of 2 Kings, where it refers to Pharaoh Neco II, who reigned over Egypt from 610 to 595 BC. Neco II is known for his military campaigns in the Levant and his defeat of King Josiah of Judah at the Battle of Megiddo in 609 BC.
Another notable figure in history with the name Neco was Neco of Miletus, a Greek navigator and explorer from the 6th century BC. He is credited with being one of the first individuals to circumnavigate Africa, sailing around the continent and passing through the Strait of Gibraltar.
In the 4th century BC, there was Neco of Plataea, a Greek military leader who played a crucial role in the Battle of Plataea during the Greco-Persian Wars. He is remembered for his bravery and strategic leadership on the battlefield.
Moving forward in time, Neco was also the name of a 12th-century Byzantine nobleman and military commander who served under the Emperor Manuel I Komnenos. He participated in various campaigns against the Seljuk Turks and played a significant role in the defense of the Byzantine Empire.
Another individual with the name Neco worth mentioning is Neco Brett, a 19th-century English cricketer who played for Cambridge University and the Marylebone Cricket Club. He was born in 1834 and is remembered for his contributions to the sport during the early years of its development.
While the name Neco has its roots in ancient Egyptian culture, it has been adopted and used across various civilizations and time periods, often associated with strength, victory, and military prowess. These historical figures serve as examples of the name's enduring legacy and the diverse backgrounds of those who have borne it throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Neco over time
The chart below shows babies named Neco registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Neco, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Neco by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Neco was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2307 | 55 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4028 | 9 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Neco
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nicholas 15,983
- Nathaniel 12,151
- Niall 5,746
- Nicolas 3,825
- Nico 3,532
- Nate 2,029
- Nikodem 1,872
- Noel 1,865
- Ned 1,614
- Neo 1,563
FAQ
Neco: questions and answers
How popular is the name Neco in the UK right now?
In 2024, Neco was ranked #3688 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Neco most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 18 babies registered as Neco in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Neco?
An Old English name meaning "kinsman" or "nephew".
How many people are called Neco in the UK?
A total of 64 babies have been registered as Neco across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.