Nel is both a South African ( Afrikaans) surname and a Dutch feminine given name. Notable people with the name include:

Surname

André Nel André Nel (born 15 July 1977) is a former South African cricketer who played all formats as a fast bowler. Since retired from international arena, he played county cricket for Surrey. He announced his retirement from international cricket on ...

(born 1977), South African cricketer * Andries Nel (born 1965), South African deputy minister *

Anton Nel Anton Nel (born December 29, 1961) is a South African classical pianist. Biography Nel was born to Afrikaans-speaking parents in Johannesburg, South Africa. Nel made his debut at the age of twelve with Beethoven's C Major Concerto after only two ...

(born 1961), American classical pianist *

Christof Nel Christof Nel (born 7 April 1944) is a German theatre and opera director. He began his career as an actor but moved on to direct opera productions at major opera houses. Life Born in Stuttgart to parents who were both musicians, Nel studied ar ...

(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 comi ...

(born 1980), South African-born Scottish cricketer *

Elizabeth Nel Elizabeth Shakespear Nel (née Layton; 14 June 1917 – 30 October 2007) was a personal secretary to Winston Churchill from 1941 to 1945. Biography Elizabeth Layton was born on 14 June 1917 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Her father, a vete ...

(1917–2007), English personal secretary to Winston Churchill during the Second World War *

Fred Nel Frederik Petrus Nel (born 23 March 1970) is a South African politician who has served as a Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature since May 2009, representing the Democratic Alliance. He is the DA's Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transpo ...

, 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 regularly ...

(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'', a flowering plant of the family Aizoaceae, is named in his honor. Biography Nel was b ...

(1885–1950), South African botanist *

Gert Vlok Nel Gert Vlok Nel (Beaufort West, 1963) is a South African poet. He studied English, Afrikaans and history at Stellenbosch University and worked as a guide, a bartender and a watchman. He has published one collection of poems, ''Om te lewe is onnatuur ...

(born 1963), South African poet *

Grant Nel Grant Roy Nel (born 7 April 1988) is an Australian Olympic diver. He is the 2016 National Champion for Men's 3 m and was a medalist for Australia at the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games The 2014 Commonwealth Games ( gd, Geamannan a' C ...

, Australian diver * Jack Nel (born 1928), South African cricketer * Jacques Nel (born 1993), South African rugby player * Japie Nel (born 1982), South African rugby player *

Jean-Pierre Nel Jean-Pierre Nel is a South African rugby league player for the Tuks Bulls. His position is centre and second row. He is a South African international, and has played in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying against Jamaica and the USA. He re ...

, South African rugby player *

JP Nel Jacobus Paulus (JP) Nel (born 9 January 1981) is a former South African rugby union footballer, who regularly played as a centre. He made his first class debut for in 2000 and made almost two hundred first class appearances between 2000 and 20 ...

(born 1981), South African rugby player * Justin Nel (born 1987), Namibian rugby player *

Krubert Nel Brigadier General Krupert Eric Nel is a retired South African Army officer. Military career Brig Gen Nel joined the South African Defence Force at the School of Engineers in 1978 as a National Serviceman, where he later became an officer. In ...

(born c.1960), South African Army officer * Michiel Daniel Christiaan De Wet Nel (born 1901), South African Politician *

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 hi ...

(born 1969), American scholar of children's literature and professor of English *

Philip J. Nel Philip Jacobus Nel (17 June 1902 – 11 February 1984) was a South African rugby player. The son of Piet Nel and Kitty Maritz, he was educated at Maritzburg College, matriculating as Head Prefect and captain of the rugby First XV in 1921. Nel e ...

(1902–1984), South African rugby union player * Riana Nel (born 1982), Namibian singer and songwriter * Ricus Nel (born 1979), Afrikaans musician, singer and songwriter * Ruhan Nel (born 1991), South African rugby union player *

Susan Nel Susanna Sophie Nel (born 27 August 1956) is a South African international lawn bowler. Bowls career In 2009 she won the fours silver medal at the Atlantic Bowls Championships and in 2011 she won the fours silver medal and triples bronze at the ...

(born 1956), South African lawn bowler * Vita Nel, South African beach volleyball player *

Wenda Nel Wenda Nel (née Theron; born 30 July 1988) is a South African athlete specialising in the 400 metres hurdles. She competed at the 2011 World Championships reaching the semifinals. She competed in the women's 400 metres hurdles at the 2020 Sum ...

(born 1988), South African hurdler *

W. P. Nel Willem Petrus Nel (born 30 April 1986) is a Scottish rugby union player. He plays as a prop for Edinburgh Rugby in the United Rugby Championship and represents Scotland in international rugby. He previously played for Free State Cheetahs, Western ...

(born 1986), South African-born Scottish rugby player

Given name

Feminine name

The Dutch feminine name is a short form of Petronella or Cornelia. People with the name include: * Nel Benschop (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 The 1952 Summer Olympics ( fi, Kesäolympialaiset 1952; sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1952), officially known as ...

(1931–2013), Dutch sprinter * Nel Burgerhof (1908–1991), Dutch gymnast * Nel de Crits (born 1991), Belgian racing cyclist *

Nel Erasmus Nel Erasmus (born 1928 in Bethal, Transvaal Province, South Africa) is a South African artist. Erasmus studied at the Académie Ranson, École des Beaux Arts, and Sorbonne in Paris in 1953 and exhibited her works for the first time in Paris in ...

(born 1928), South African abstract artist * Nel Fritz (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, educational theory, and ethics of care. Biography Noddings received a bachelor's degre ...

(born 1929), 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 also known as London 1948) were a ...

(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 197 ...

(1926–2006), Dutch swimmer *

Nel Wambach Neeltje "Nel" Wambach (born 9 May 1938) is a former artistic gymnast from the Netherlands. She competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olym ...

(born 1938), Dutch gymnast *

Nel Zwier Petronella Veronica Maria "Nel" Zwier (29 August 1936 – 8 October 2001) was a Dutch high jumper. She competed at the 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the ...

(1936–2001), Dutch high jumper ;Fictional character *Nel Rawlison, a main character in Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel '' In Desert and Wilderness''

Masculine name

Often a short form of Nelson * 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) was an English featherweight boxer from Liverpool, England. He was British featherweight champion ...

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

Surname

Given name

Feminine name

Masculine name

See also