neal

Neal is a name that appears as both a given name and a surname in English-speaking countries. As a given name, Neal is typically a variant of Neil and is commonly pronounced "neel." It shares origins with spellings such as Neale, Neill, and Niall.

Etymology: The given-name Neil derives from the Gaelic Niall, a name often interpreted as meaning "champion" though the exact sense is uncertain. Neal as a surname usually originated as a patronymic form of Neil/Neale, and it is found in Ireland, Scotland, and among descendants in the United States.

Notable people with Neal as a given name include Neal Stephenson, an American author known for Snow Crash and The Baroque Cycle; Neal Adams, an American comics artist; Neal Cassady, a central figure of the Beat Generation; Neal Shusterman, an American writer of young adult fiction; Neal Boortz, an American radio host; Neal Cotts, an American professional baseball pitcher; and Neal Lane, an American physicist and former U.S. Secretary of Energy.

Notable people with Neal as a surname include John Neal, a 19th-century American writer and publisher. Variants of the name include Neil, Neale, Neill, Neale, and Niall.