Nils

Nils is a masculine given name common in Sweden and Norway, and found in other parts of Northern Europe and the Americas among communities with Scandinavian heritage. It is typically used as an independent given name rather than a nickname.

The name originated as a Scandinavian variant of Nikolaus (Nicholas). In Swedish history, Nils developed from the medieval forms of Nikolaus and became established as a given name in its own right.

Variants and distribution: In Denmark the spelling Niels is more prevalent; outside Scandinavia it occurs less frequently but can be found among immigrants and their descendants. The name Nils has several diminutives and affectionate forms such as Nisse in Swedish.

Notable people: Nils Liedholm (1922–2007), Swedish footballer; Nils Lofgren (born 1951), American musician; Nils Frahm (born 1982), German pianist and composer; Nils Petter Molvær (born 1960), Norwegian trumpeter. Fictional: Nils Holgersson, protagonist of Selma Lagerlöf's The Wonderful Adventures of Nils.

Overall, Nils remains a traditional name in Scandinavia, reflecting historic naming practices and regional linguistic variation.