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Niger = black, and Nigellus is a diminutive or, perhaps, a nn form. Little dark person. No mystery there.

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It used to have a rather aristocratic air about it, but then it went down-market towards middle managers and rowdy sportsmen. I don't think it's usable now ... but then, I'm not in the USA.

Looking at the popularity data for the name on here, I'd guess that Nigel has actually been more popular in the States than in the UK in the last 30 years. I've met a lot of Nigels over 30, but never a younger one. It's quite a pleasant-sounding name, but it feels a bit dated to me, whereas it probably wouldn't to someone in the US.

I don't know about the meaning. Sorry.

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As for the name itself, I don't really like it. It sounds stuffy to me for some reason.

I love Nigel. It's a handsome name.

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I think it works just fine here in America.

My brother had a cabbage patch kid named Nigel Eberly when he was a baby! That's all i can ever associate it with. I had Georgia Rosemarie and he had Nigel Eberly! hahaha

My name book says that it's from Nigellus, a Latinized form of Neil (and therefore means champion).
Very British, but nice.

I really like it.

I love it! I think it's awesome.

I love it! I think it's so quirky and British sounding, I would love to meet a little Nigel someday.

I've read that it means dark, but my real life observation of the name in use tends to leave the image of "tall, white British guy"... Could see it working well on a tall, good-looking dark guy as well.

I hear the name Nigel and all I can think of Dennis Vitolo's Indy 500 car landing over Nigel Mansell's car. Kind of neutral on the name thanks to that ridicious crash, you can see it on YouTube.

This message was edited 8/8/2010, 7:57 PM