Nel (name)

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

Surname

 * André Nel (born 1977), South African cricketer
 * Andries Nel (born 1965), South African deputy minister
 * Anton Nel (born 1961), American classical pianist
 * Christof Nel (born 1944), German theatre and opera director
 * Corne Nel, South African rugby player
 * Dewald Nel (born 1980), South African-born Scottish cricketer
 * Elizabeth Nel (1917–2007), English personal secretary to Winston Churchill during the Second World War
 * Fred Nel, South African politician
 * Gerrie Nel (born 1961), South African advocate and prosecutor
 * Gert Cornelius Nel (1885–1950), South African botanist
 * Gert Vlok Nel (born 1963), South African poet
 * Grant Nel, Australian diver
 * Jack Nel (1928–2018), South African cricketer
 * Jacques Nel (born 1993), South African rugby player
 * Japie Nel (born 1982), South African rugby player
 * Jean-Pierre Nel, South African rugby player
 * JP Nel (born 1981), South African rugby player
 * Justin Nel (born 1987), Namibian rugby player
 * Krubert Nel (born c. 1960), South African Army officer
 * Michiel Daniel Christiaan De Wet Nel (1901–1984), South African Minister of Bantu Administration and Development, and Bantu Education from 1958 to 1966
 * Philip Nel (born 1969), American scholar of children's literature and professor of English
 * Philip J. Nel (1902–1984), South African rugby union player
 * Riana Nel (born 1982), Namibian singer and songwriter
 * Ruhan Nel (born 1991), South African rugby union player
 * Susan Nel (born 1956), South African lawn bowler
 * Vita Nel, South African beach volleyball player
 * Wenda Nel (born 1988), South African hurdler
 * W. P. Nel (born 1986), South African-born Scottish rugby player

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 (1931–2013), Dutch sprinter
 * Nel Burgerhof (1908–1991), Dutch gymnast
 * Nel de Crits (born 1991), Belgian racing cyclist
 * Nel Erasmus (born 1928), South African abstract artist
 * Nel Fritz (born 1937), Dutch gymnast
 * Nel Garritsen (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 (1929–2022), American feminist, educationalist, and philosopher
 * Nel van Randwijk (1905–1978), Dutch gymnast
 * Nel Roos-Lodder (1914–1996), Dutch discus thrower
 * Nel van Vliet (1926–2006), Dutch swimmer
 * Nel Wambach (born 1938), Dutch gymnast
 * Nel Zwier (1936–2001), Dutch high jumper

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