Quick answer
Nélson is a boy name meaning "son of Neil".
Pronunciation: English /ˈnɛl.sən/; Spanish /ˈnel.son/.
Meaning and history
From an English surname meaning "son of Neil ". It was originally given in honour of the British admiral Horatio Nelson (1758-1805). His most famous battle was the Battle of Trafalgar, in which he destroyed a combined French and Spanish fleet, but was himself killed. Another notable bearer was the South African statesman Nelson Mandela (1918-2013). Mandela's birth name was Rolihlahla ; as a child he was given the English name Nelson by a teacher.
Notes and context
Usage: english, spanish, portuguese