Neil

Neil is an anglicisation of the Old Irish name Niall, whose meaning is debated but most commonly interpreted as champion or cloud, with some scholars also proposing passionate or vehement. The name was borne by Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary High King of Ireland from whom the powerful Uí Néill dynasty claimed descent, giving the name enormous prestige throughout the medieval Gaelic world. Norse settlers in Ireland adopted it as Njáll, which spread across Scandinavia, while in Scotland it became Neal and Neill. Variant forms include Neal, Nigel, and the Latin-influenced Nigellus.