Nel is both a

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

n (

Afrikaans Afrikaans is a West Germanic languages, West Germanic language spoken in South Africa, Namibia and to a lesser extent Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and also Argentina where there is a group in Sarmiento, Chubut, Sarmiento that speaks the Pat ...

) surname and a

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

feminine given name. Notable people with the name include:

Surname

André Nel André Nel (born 15 July 1977) is a South African former cricketer who played all formats as a fast bowler. He retired from international cricket on 25 March 2009. Domestic career In February 2001 he hit the headlines after bursting into tear ...

(born 1977), South African cricketer *

Andries Nel Andries Carl Nel (born 2 October 1965) is a South African politician who is currently serving as the Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development. He is a member of the African National Congress (ANC) and was a human rights lawyer ...

(born 1965), South African deputy minister * Anton Nel (born 1961), American classical pianist *

Christof Nel Christof Nel (7 April 1944 – 6 August 2024) was a German theatre and opera director. He began his career as an actor but moved on to direct opera productions at major opera houses. Plays that he directed were invited to the Berliner Theatertre ...

(born 1944), German theatre and opera director * Corne Nel, South African rugby player *

Dewald Nel Johan Dewald Nel (born 6 June 1980) is a former South African-born Scottish professional cricketer. He is a primarily a right-arm fast-medium bowler, who also bats right-handed. Nel played 110 times for the Scottish cricket team, his début co ...

(born 1980), South African-born Scottish cricketer * Elizabeth Nel (1917–2007), English personal secretary to Winston Churchill during the Second World War * Fred Nel, South African politician *

Gerrie Nel Gerhard C. "Gerrie" Nel (, born 1961) is a South African advocate. Until January 2017, he was a prosecutor for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of South Africa. He is nicknamed "Bulldog" for his tenacity in the courtroom, and is regularl ...

(born 1961), South African advocate and prosecutor *

Gert Cornelius Nel Gert Cornelius Nel (6 April 1885 – 16 February 1950) was a South African botanist. His formal botanical author abbreviation is Nel. The genus ''Nelia (plant), Nelia'', a flowering plant of the family Aizoaceae, is named in his honor. Biog ...

(1885–1950), South African botanist * Gert Vlok Nel (born 1963), South African poet *

Grant Nel Grant Roy Nel (born 7 April 1988) is an Australian diver. Nel won three medals for Australia at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, and represented Australia in the 2016 Summer Olympics. Early life and college career Nel was born in Johan ...

, Australian diver *

Jack Nel John Desmond Nel (10 July 1928 – 13 January 2018) was a South African cricketer who played in six Tests Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to: * Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledg ...

(1928–2018), South African cricketer * Jacques Nel (born 1993), South African rugby player * Japie Nel (born 1982), South African rugby player *Jean-Pierre Nel, South African rugby player * JP Nel (born 1981), South African rugby player *

Justin Nel Justin Alastair Nel (born 14 February 1987) is a Namibian rugby union player for the Namibia national team and the in the Currie Cup and the Rugby Challenge. His regular position is fullback. Rugby career Nel was born in Windhoek (then in ...

(born 1987), Namibian rugby player *

Krubert Nel Brigadier General Krubert Eric Nel is a retired South African Army officer who also served in the South African Special Forces. Military career Brig Gen Nel joined the South African Defence Force at the School of Engineers in January 1978 as ...

(born c. 1960), South African Army officer *

Michiel Daniel Christiaan De Wet Nel Michiel is a Dutch masculine given name equivalent to Michael and a Venetian surname. Given name * Michiel Andrieszoon (died 1684), Dutch pirate * Michiel Bartman (born 1967), Dutch rower * Michiel Borstlap (born 1966), Dutch pianist and comp ...

(1901–1984), South African

Minister of Bantu Administration and Development, and Bantu Education The minister of Bantu administration and development, and Bantu education is a former political position in apartheid South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country ...

from 1958 to 1966 *

Philip Nel Philip W. Nel (born March 29, 1969) is an American scholar of children's literature and University Distinguished Professor of English at Kansas State University. He is best known for his work on Dr. Seuss and ''Harry Potter'', which has led to h ...

(born 1969), American scholar of children's literature and professor of English * Philip J. Nel (1902–1984), South African rugby union player * Riana Nel (born 1982), Namibian singer and songwriter * Ruhan Nel (born 1991), South African rugby union player * Susan Nel (born 1956), South African lawn bowler *

Vita Nel Vitalina "Vita" Nel (born 11 December 1975) is a South African olympic beach volleyballer who competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and officially branded as Beijin ...

, South African beach volleyball player * Wenda Nel (born 1988), South African hurdler * W. P. Nel (born 1986), South African-born Scottish rugby player

Given name

Feminine name

The Dutch feminine name is a short form of

Petronella Petronilla is a Late Latin feminine given name. The name is a diminutive form of Petronia, itself the feminine form of Petronius, a Roman naming conventions#Nomen, Roman family name. Saint Petronilla is an early Roman saint, later interpreted as ...

Cornelia Cornelia may refer to: People *Cornelia (name), a feminine given name *Cornelia (gens), a Roman family Places *425 Cornelia, the asteroid ''Cornelia'', a main-belt asteroid ;Italy *Cornelia (Rome Metro), an underground station on Rome Metro *Via ...

. People with the name include: *

Nel Benschop Nelly Anna Benschop (16 January 1918 – 31 January 2005) was a Dutch poet. She was a best selling poet in the Netherlands. Early years Benschop was born in The Hague and grew up in a strictly religious Dutch Reformed family. She followed the "M ...

(1918–2005), Dutch poet * Nel Bos (1947), Dutch swimmer *

Nel Büch Petronella "Nel" Büch (6 December 1931, de Vos – 5 February 2013) was a Dutch sprinter. She competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in the 100 m and 4 × 100 m relay and finished in sixth place in the relay. Between 1950 and 1954 she won five nati ...

(1931–2013), Dutch sprinter * Nel Burgerhof (1908–1991), Dutch gymnast * Nel de Crits (born 1991), Belgian racing cyclist * Nel Erasmus (born 1928), South African abstract artist *

Nel Fritz Pieternella "Nel" Fritz (later Zandee; born 4 June 1937) is a retired Dutch gymnast. She competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad () and commonly known as Rome 1960 ...

(born 1937), Dutch gymnast *

Nel Garritsen Petronella Frederika Cornelia "Nel" Garritsen (3 April 1933 – 3 February 2014) was a Dutch swimmer. In 1949 and in 1950 she was part of the Dutch team that set a new world record in the now obsolete 3×100 medley relay event. She competed in th ...

(1933–2014), Dutch swimmer * Nel Ginjaar-Maas (1931–2012), Dutch State Secretary of Education * Nel Karelse (1926–2015), Dutch sprinter and long-jumper * Nel Law (1914–1990), Australian artist, poet and diarist *

Nel Noddings Nel Noddings (; January 19, 1929 – August 25, 2022) was an American feminist, educator, and philosopher best known for her work in philosophy of education, theory of education, educational theory, and ethics of care. Biography Noddings receiv ...

(1929–2022), American feminist, educationalist, and philosopher * Nel van Randwijk (1905–1978), Dutch gymnast *

Nel Roos-Lodder Petronella Gerardina "Nel" Roos-Lodder (4 April 1914 – 4 June 1996) was a Dutch discus thrower. She competed at 1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XIV Olympiad and officially branded as London 1948 ...

(1914–1996), Dutch discus thrower *

Nel van Vliet Petronella "Nel" van Vliet (17 January 1926 – 4 January 2006) was a breaststroke swimmer from the Netherlands. She won gold medals in the 200 m breaststroke at the 1947 European Aquatics Championships and 1948 Summer Olympics. In 1973, s ...

(1926–2006), Dutch swimmer * Nel Wambach (born 1938), Dutch gymnast *

Nel Zwier Petronella Veronica Maria "Nel" Zwier (29 August 1936 – 8 October 2001) was a Dutch high jumper who competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Biography Zwier won the British WAAA Championships The WAAA Championships was an annual track an ...

(1936–2001), Dutch high jumper

Masculine name

Often a short form of

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

* Nel Martín (born 1980), Spanish vert skater * Nel Oduber (born 1947), Prime Minister of Aruba *

Nel Tarleton Nelson "Nel" Tarleton (14 February 1906Odd, Gilbert E. (ed.) (1946) ''Boxing News Annual 1946'', War Facts Press, p. 53 – 12 January 1956) Former British and Commonwealth featherweight boxing champion . He was the British featherweight c ...

(1906–1956), English featherweight boxer *Nel Ust Wyclef Jean (born 1969), Haitian musician better known as ''

Wyclef Jean Nel Ust Wyclef Jean ( ; born October 17, 1969) is a Haitian rapper, singer, and record producer. Born in Haiti, Jean emigrated to the Northeastern United States, United States as a child. He gained fame as a founding member of the Fugees, a Ne ...

Surname

Given name

Feminine name

Masculine name

See also