# Nelson (given name)

Nelson is an English given name, more commonly used as a surname.
It is derived from a patronymic name created from the given name "Nell".

## People with the given name Nelson

* Top
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z

### A

* Nelson Abadía (born 1956), Colombian football manager
* Nelson Abbott (born 1966), American attorney
* Nelson Abeijón (born 1973), Uruguayan footballer
* Nelson Acevedo (born 1988), Argentine footballer
* Nelson Acosta (born 1944), Uruguayan footballer
* Nelson Adams (born 1953), American physician
* Nelson Adams (boxer) (born 1967), Puerto Rican boxer
* Nelson Aerts (born 1963), Brazilian tennis player
* Nelson Agbesi (1939–2016), Ghanaian barrister
* Nelson Agho (born 2003), Spanish footballer
* Nelson Agholor (born 1993), American football player
* Nelson Agresta (born 1955), Uruguayan footballer
* Nelson Akwari (born 1982), American soccer player
* Nelson Alaguich (born 1959), Uruguayan footballer
* Nelson W. Aldrich (1841–1915), American politician
* Nelson W. Aldrich Jr. (1935–2022), American educator
* Nelson Algren (1909–1981), American writer
* Nelson Allen (1933–2005), American politician
* Nélson Almeida (born 1979), Angolan tennis player
* Nelson Alom (born 1990), Indonesian footballer
* Nelson Amadin (born 2001), Dutch footballer
* Nelson Amorim Magalhães (1911–?), Brazilian footballer
* Nelson Mauricio Ancheta (born 1963), Salvadoran footballer and manager
* Nelson Annandale (1876–1924), Scottish zoologist
* Nelson Araujo (born 1987), American politician
* Nélson Domingues de Araújo (born 1972), Brazilian footballer
* Nelson Rodríguez Arévalo, Colombian gang leader
* Nelson Asaytono (born 1967), Filipino basketball player
* Nelson Ascencio (born 1964), Cuban-American actor
* Nelson Asofa-Solomona (born 1996), New Zealand rugby league footballer
* Nelson Atiagli (born 1996), Ghanaian footballer
* Nelson Avila (dancer) (born 1940), Argentine dancer
* Nelson Ávila (Chilean politician) (born 1942), Chilean politician
* Nelson Azeem, Pakistani politician
* Nelson Azevedo-Janelas (born 1998), Belgian footballer

### B

* Nelson Baker (1842–1936), American priest
* Nelson C. Baker, American civil engineer
* Nelson Ball (1942–2016), Canadian poet
* Nelson Ball (rugby union) (1908–1986), New Zealand rugby union footballer
* Nelson Balongo (born 1999), Belgian-Congolese footballer
* Nelson Barahona (born 1987), Panamanian footballer
* Nelson Barbosa (born 1969), Brazilian economist
* Nelson H. Barbour (1824–1905), American writer
* Nelson Barbudo (born 1960), Brazilian politician
* Nelson Barclift (1917–1993), American choreographer
* Nelson Barrera (1957–2002), Mexican baseball player
* Nelson Cárcamo Barrera, Chilean politician
* Nelson Barrere (1808–1883), American politician
* Nelson B. Bartram (1832–1886), American army officer
* Nelson Bascome (1955–2009), Bermudian politician
* Nelson Estupiñán Bass (1912–2002), Ecuadorian writer
* Nelson Batista (born 1962), Cuban dancer
* Nelson J. Beach (1800–1876), American surveyor
* Nelson Becerra (born 1987), Peruvian footballer
* Nelson F. Beckwith (1813–1873), American politician and businessman
* Nelson Benítez (born 1984), Argentine footballer
* Nelson Bentley (1918–1990), American poet
* Nelson Bernal (born 1972), Paraguayan footballer
* Nélson Bertolazzi (born 1966), Brazilian footballer
* Nelson Betancourt (1887–1947), Trinidadian cricketer
* Nelson Gordon Bigelow (1840–1892), Canadian lawyer and politician
* Nelson Boateng (born 1968), Ghanaian sprinter
* Nelson Bolan (born 1990), West Indian cricketer
* Nelson S. Bond (1908–2006), American writer
* Nelson Bonilla (born 1990), Salvadorian footballer
* Nelson Borges (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Bornier (1950–2021), Brazilian lawyer and politician
* Nelson Blanco (born 1999), Salvadorian footballer
* Nelson Bragg (born 1961), American musician
* Nelson Brickham (1927–2007), American intelligence officer
* Nelson Briles (1943–2005), American baseball player
* Nelson Brito (born 1960), Ecuadorian football manager
* Nelson V. Brittin (1920–1951), American soldier
* Nelson Brizuela (born 1950), Paraguayan footballer
* Nelson Broms (1919–2023), American business executive
* Nelson Brown, American curler
* Nelson C. Brown (1885–??), American professor
* Nelson Brownell, American politician
* Nelson Burbrink (1921–2001), American baseball player
* Nelson M. Burroughs (1899–1998), American prelate
* Nelson Burton (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Bustamante (born 1992), Chilean footballer

### C

* Nelson Cabanillas (born 2000), Peruvian footballer
* Nelson Cabrera (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Calzadilla (born 1954), Venezuelan boxer
* Nelson Carmichael (born 1965), American skier
* Nelson Carrero (bron 1953), Venezuelan footballer
* Nelson Victor Carter (1887–1916), English army officer
* Nelson Case (1910–1976), American radio announcer
* Nelson Castro (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Catalina (born 1950), American basketball coach
* Nelson Cavaquinho (1911–1986), Brazilian singer
* Nelson Ceaser (born 2001), American football player
* Nelson Cereceda (born 1991), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Chabay (1940–2018), Uruguayan footballer
* Nelson Chai (born 1965), American investment banker
* Nelson Chamisa (born 1978), Zimbabwean politician
* Nelson Chanady (born 1963), American motocross racer
* Nelson Chelle (1931–2001), Uruguayan basketball player
* Nelson W. Cheney (1875–1944), American politician
* Nelson Cherutich (born 1993), Bahraini steeplechase
* Nelson Chia, Singaporean theatre director
* Nelson Chittum (1933–2024), American baseball player
* Nelson Chui (born 1947), Peruvian engineer
* Nelson Clarke (1914–1982), Canadian politician
* Nelson Coates, American production designer
* Nelson Cobb (1811–1894), American judge
* Nelson D. Cole (1833–1899), American army officer and politician
* Nelson Colón, Puerto Rican basketball coach
* Nelson Cooke (1919–2018), Australian cellist
* Nelson M. Cooke (1903–1965), American entrepreneur
* Nelson Cossio (born 1966), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Cowan (born 1951), American psychology professor
* Nelson Cowles (1930–2021), American politician
* Nelson Cragg (born 1978), American film director
* Nelson Crispín (born 1992), Colombian Paralympic swimmer
* Nelson Cruikshank (1902–1986), American policy analyst
* Nelson Cruz (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Cuevas (born 1980), Paraguayan footballer
* Nelson Cupello (born 1951), Brazilian footballer and manager

### D

* Nélson da Conceição (1900–??), Brazilian footballer
* Nelson da Luz (born 1998), Angolan footballer
* Nelson Dantas (1927–2006), Brazilian actor
* Nelson Horatio Darton (1865–1948), American geologist
* Nelson Davidyan (1950–2016), Armenian wrestler and coach
* Nelson Davis (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Dawson (1859–1941), British artist
* Nelson Dean (1899–1939), American baseball player
* Nélson de Araújo (1926–1993), Brazilian writer
* Nelson Debenedet (born 1947), Italian-Canadian ice hockey player
* Nelson DeCastro (born 1969), American comic book artist
* Nelson Delailomaloma, Fijian politician
* Nelson de la Rosa (1968–2006), Dominican actor
* Nelson Dellis (born 1984), American memory athlete
* Nelson del Valle (born 1965), Puerto Rican politician
* Nelson Demarco (1925–2009), Uruguayan basketball player
* Nelson DeMille (1943–2024), American author
* Nelson Dewey (1813–1889), American politician
* Nelson Diale (1936–2015), South African politician
* Nelson Diaz (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Diebel (born 1970), American swimmer
* Nelson Dieppa (born 1971), American boxer
* Nelson S. Dilworth (1890–1965), American farmer and politician
* Nelson Dingley Jr. (1832–1899), American politician and journalist
* Nelson Dladla (born 1954), South African footballer
* Nelson Doi (1922–2015), American politician
* Nelson Dollar (born 1961), American politician
* Nelson Domínguez (born 1957), Cuban water polo player
* Nelson dos Santos (born 1952), Brazilian sprinter
* Nelson Doubleday (1889–1949), American publisher
* Nelson Doubleday Jr. (1933–2015), American businessman
* Nelson Dunford (1906–1986), American mathematician

### E

* Nelson Eddy (1901–1967), American singer
* Nelson E. Edwards (1887–1954), American film historian
* Nelson Effiong (born 1953), Nigerian politician
* Nelson Elder (1923–1983), Northern Irish politician
* Nelson Emerson (born 1967), Canadian ice hockey player
* Nelson Erazo (athlete) (1959–2017), Puerto Rican track athlete
* Nelson Evans (1889–1922), American photographer
* Nelson Évora (born 1984), Portuguese triple jumper

### F

* Nelson Delle-Vigne Fabbri (born 1949), Italian pianist
* Nelson Famadas (1948–2010), Puerto Rican businessman
* Nelson Faria (born 1963), Brazilian guitarist
* Nélson Fernandes (born 1946), Portuguese footballer
* Nelson Fernández (born 1957), Cuban gymnast
* Nelson Ferreira (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Fogarty (1871–1933), Namibian bishop
* Nelson M. Ford (born 1947), American politician
* Nelson Frank (1906–1974), American journalist
* Nelson Franklin (born 1985), American actor
* Nelson Freire (1944–2021), Brazilian pianist
* Nelson Fryer (1818–1896), American farmer and politician
* Nelson Fu (1894–1968), Chinese doctor
* Nelson Fuentes (born 1978), Salvadoran economist
* Nelson Fuson (1913–2006), American physicist

### G

* Nelson Gabolwelwe (born 1977), Botswanan footballer
* Nelson Gaetz (1907–1988), Canadian politician
* Nelson Gaichuhie, Kenyan politician
* Nélson Gama (born 1972), Bissau-Guinean-Portuguese footballer
* Nelson Garner (born 1976), American football player
* Nelson B. Gaskill (1875–1964), American politician
* Nelson Gavit (1810–1876), American manufacturing executive
* Nelson Geingob (born 1982), Namibian footballer
* Nelson George (born 1957), American writer
* Nelson F. Gibbs (born 1938), American politician
* Nelson Gidding (1919–2004), American screenwriter
* Nelson Gill, American politician
* Nelson Glueck (1900–1971), American rabbi and archaeologist
* Nelson L. Goldberg (1930–2005), American telecommunications pioneer
* Nelson Gonçalves (1919–1998), Brazilian singer
* Nelson González (born 1988), Argentine footballer
* Nelson González (musician) (born 1948), Puerto Rican tres player
* Nelson Goodman (1906–1998), American philosopher
* Nelson Gooneratne (born 1934), Sri Lankan cricket umpire
* Nelson H. H. Graburn (born 1936), British professor
* Nelson Greene (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson G. Gross (1932–1997), American politician
* Nelson Guarda (1933–2002), Brazilian rower
* Nelson Guerrero (born 1962), Ecuadorian footballer
* Nelson Gutiérrez (born 1962), Uruguayan footballer

### H

* Nelson Hackett (1810–??), American escaped slave
* Nelson Hahne (1908–1970), American illustrator
* Nelson Hairston (1917–2008), American ecologist
* Nelson Harding (1879–1944), American cartoonist
* Nelson Hardwick (born 1951), American politician
* Nelson Hardy (1905–1993), Australian rugby league footballer
* Nelson Harris (born 1964), American politician
* Nelson Hart (born 1968), Canadian murderer
* Nelson B. Hatch (1879–1956), American football coach
* Nelson Hawks (1840–1929), American inventor
* Nelson Heg (born 1993), Malaysian badminton player
* Nelson Henricks (born 1963), Canadian artist
* Nelson M. Holderman (1885–1953), American army officer
* Nelson K. Hopkins (1816–1904), American lawyer and politician
* Nelson Howarth (1904–1945), English footballer
* Nelson Bunker Hunt (1926–2014), American businessman

### I

* Nelson Ibáñez (born 1981), Argentine footballer
* Nelson Inz (born 1969), American politician
* Nelson Illingworth (1862–1926), Australian sculptor
* Nelson Insfrán (born 1995), Argentine footballer
* Nelson Ishiwatari (born 2005), Japanese footballer

### J

* Nelson Jamili (born 1959), Filipino boxer
* Nelson Javier (born 1985), Dominican badminton player
* Nelson Johnson (born 1948), American lawyer
* Nelson T. Johnson (1887–1954), American ambassador
* Nelson Johnston (born 1990), Cuban footballer
* Nelson Jones (born 1964), American football player

### K

* Nelson E. Kauffman (1904–1984), American bishop
* Nelson Keene (born 1942), British singer
* Nelson A. Kellogg (1881–1945), American athlete and coach
* Nelson Keys (1886–1939), British actor
* Nelson P. W. Khonje (1923–2019), Malawian politician
* Nelson Khumbeni (born 2002), English footballer
* Nelson Kiang, Chinese-American professor
* Nelson King (1914–1974), American disc jockey
* Nelson G. Kraschel (1889–1957), American politician
* Nelson Kuhn (born 1937), Canadian rower
* Nelson Kwei (born 1961), Singaporean conductor
* Nelson Kyeremeh, Ghanaian politician

### L

* Nelson La Due (1831–1900), American politician
* Nelson Lam (born 1968), Hong Kong politician
* Nelson Laurence (born 1984), Seychellois footballer
* Nelson Ledesma (born 1990), Argentine golfer
* Nelson Lee (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Leigh (1905–1985), American actor
* Nelson Leirner (1932–2020), Brazilian artist
* Nelson Lemmon (1908–1989), Australian politician
* Nelson Lemus (1960–1977), Salvadoran religious figure
* Nélson Lenho (born 1984), Portuguese footballer
* Nelson Levy (??–2007), French Polynesian travel executive
* Nelson Lichtenstein (born 1944), American professor
* Nelson Lincoln (1914–2000), American sports shooter
* Nelson Liriano (born 1964), Dominican baseball player
* Nélson Lisboa (1930–2020), Brazilian basketball player
* Nelson Lokombo (born 1999), Canadian American football player
* Nelson López (born 1941), Argentine footballer
* Nelson Seymour Lougheed (1882–1944), Canadian businessman and politician
* Nelson Loyola (born 1968), Cuban fencer
* Nelson Lucas (born 1979), Seychellois sprinter
* Nelson Ludington (1818–1883), American businessman

### M

* Nelson Madore (1943–2020), American politician
* Nelson Maldonaldo-Torres, Puerto Rican philosopher
* Nelson Mandela (1918–2013), South African politician and activist
* Nelson H. Manning (1832–??), American politician
* Nelson Marcenaro (1952–2021), Uruguayan footballer
* Nélson Marcos (born 1983), Portuguese footballer
* Nelson Margetts (1879–1932), American polo player
* Nelson Mariano (born 1974), Filipino chess player
* Nelson Martin (born 1958), Canadian football player
* Nelson Martinez (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Mason (born 1987), Canadian racing driver
* Nelson Mathews (born 1941), American baseball player
* Nelson E. Matthews (1852–1917), American politician
* Nelson Max, American computer scientist
* Nelson Mazivisa (born 1985), Zimbabwean footballer
* Nelson McCormick (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson McDowell (1870–1947), American actor
* Nelson McVicar (1871–1960), American judge
* Nelson Medina (born 1978), Peruvian artist
* Nelson Meers (born 1938), Australian politician
* Nelson Willy Mejía Mejía, Honduran military officer
* Nelson Mensah (born 1973), Ghanaian footballer
* Nelson Merced (born 1947), American activist and politician
* Nelson Merentes (born 1954), Venezuelan mathematician
* Nelson Merlo (born 1983), Brazilian racing driver
* Nelson Meurer (1942–2020), Brazilian politician
* Nelson Michael, American researcher
* Nelson A. Miles (1839–1925), American soldier
* Nélson Monte (born 1995), Portuguese footballer
* Nélson Monteiro de Souza (1904–??), Brazilian basketball player
* Nelson Mora (born 1976), Venezuelan swimmer
* Nélson Morais (born 1974), Portuguese footballer
* Nelson Morales (born 1976), Guatemalan footballer
* Nelson Mores (born 1959), Chilean football manager
* Nelson Morgan, American computer scientist
* Nelson Morpurgo (1899–1978), Italian lawyer
* Nelson Morris (1838–1907), American entrepreneur
* Nelson Motta (born 1944), Brazilian journalist
* Nelson Muguku (1932–2010), Kenyan entrepreneur
* Nelson Müller (born 1979), German restaurateur
* Nelson Munganga (born 1993), Congolese footballer
* Nelson Munsey (1948–2009), American football player

### N

* Nelson Navarro (born 1949), Curaçaoan politician
* Nelson Ned (1947–2014), Brazilian singer
* Nelson Ne'e (1954–2013), Solomon Islands politician
* Nelson Nhamussua (born 2001), Mozambican basketball player
* Nelson Nieves (1934–2021), Venezuelan fencer
* Nelson Nitchman (1908–1991), American athletic coach
* Nelson Nogier (born 1996), Canadian ice hockey player
* Nelson Norgren (1891–1974), American athletic coach
* Nelson Norman (born 1958), American baseball player
* Nelson I. Norton (1820–1887), American politician
* Nelson R. Norton (1809–??), American politician

### O

* Nelson Obus (born 1947), American businessman
* Nelson Odhiambo (born 1989), Kenyan cricketer
* Nelson Oduber (born 1947), Aruban politician
* Nelson Ogunshakin, British-Nigerian engineer
* Nelson Olanipekun, Nigerian lawyer
* Nélson Oliveira (born 1991), Portuguese footballer
* Nelson Olmsted (1914–1992), American actor
* Nelson Olveira (born 1974), Uruguayan footballer
* Nelson Ombito (born 1963), Kenyan judoka
* Nelson Onana (born 2000), Belgian field hockey player
* Nelson Oñate (1943–2022), Cuban sports shooter
* Nelson Onono-Onweng, Ugandan bishop
* Nelson Orji (born 2002), Nigerian footballer
* Nelson Orozco (born 2000), Bolivian footballer
* Nelson Oyarzún (1943–1978), Chilean football manager
* Nelson M. Oyesiku, Nigerian neurosurgeon
* Nelson Oyoo (born 1994), Kenyan rugby sevens footballer

### P

* Nelson Silva Pacheco (1944–2025), Colombian footballer
* Nelson Palacio (born 2001), Colombian footballer
* Nelson Panciatici (born 1988), French racing driver
* Nelson Papucci (born 1968), American politician
* Nelson Parraguez (born 1971), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Pass (born 1951), American audio designer
* Nelson Pedetti (born 1954), Uruguayan footballer
* Nélson Pedroso (born 1985), Portuguese footballer
* Nelson Peltz (born 1942), American businessman
* Nélson Pereira (born 1975), Portuguese footballer
* Nelson Pereira dos Santos (1928–2018), Brazilian film director
* Nelson J. Pérez (born 1961), American prelate
* Nélson Pescuma (1945–2006), Brazilian footballer
* Nelson Pessoa (born 1935), Brazilian equestrian
* Nelson Peterson (1913–1990), American football player
* Nelson Philippe (born 1986), French race car driver
* Nelson Phillips (1873–1939), American judge
* Nelson Pinder (1932–2022), American minister
* Nelson Pinedo (1928–2016), Colombian singer
* Nelson Pinto (born 1981), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Piquet (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Pizarro (born 1985), American soccer player
* Nelson Pizarro (Chilean footballer) (born 1970), Chilean footballer
* Nelson W. Polsby (1934–2007), American political scientist
* Nelson D. Porter (1863–1961), Canadian politician
* Nelson Thomas Potter Jr. (1939–2013), American philosopher
* Nelson Poynter (1903–1978), American publisher
* Nelson A. Primus (1842–1916), American artist
* Nelson Proença (1950–2022), Brazilian businessman and politician
* Nelson Prudêncio (1944–2012), Brazilian athlete
* Nélson Purchio (1941–2015), Brazilian footballer

### Q

* Nelson Quan (born 1984), Chinese-American film editor
* Nelson Quiñónes (born 2002), Colombian footballer

### R

* Nelson Rae (1914–1945), American actor
* Nelson Jair Cardona Ramírez (born 1969), Colombian prelate
* Nelson Ramodike (??–2012), South African politician
* Nelson Ramos (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson Rand, Canadian journalist
* Nelson Rangell (born 1960), American jazz musician
* Nelson Rattenbury (1907–1973), Canadian politician
* Nelson Rebolledo (born 1985), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Repenning, American business scholar
* Nelson Ribeiro (1910–1973), Brazilian rower
* Nelson Riddle (1921–1985), American bandleader
* Nelson Riis (born 1942), Canadian politician and businessman
* Nelson Rising (1941–2023), American businessman
* Nelson Ritsema (born 1994), Dutch rower
* Nelson Rivas (born 1983), Colombian footballer
* Nelson Rockefeller (1908–1979), American politician
* Nelson Rodrigues (1912–1980), Brazilian playwright
* Nelson Rodríguez (boxer) (born 1955), Venezuelan boxer
* Nelson S. Román (born 1960), American judge
* Nelson Royal (1935–2002), American professional wrestler
* Nelson Ruiz (born 1949), Venezuelan boxer
* Nelson Somerville Rulison (1842–1897), American bishop
* Nelson Russell (1897–1971), Northern Irish soldier
* Nelson Ruttenberg (1893–1959), American lawyer and politician

### S

* Nélson Saavedra (born 1988), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Saenz (born 1965), Cuban taekwondo practitioner
* Nelson Saiers, American artist and mathematician
* Nelson Saldana, American cyclist
* Nelson Samkange (??–2013), Zimbabwean politician
* Nélson Sampaio (born 1992), Portuguese footballer
* Nelson León Sánchez (born 1966), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Ponce Sánchez (born 1975), Cuban illustrator
* Nelson Sanhueza (born 1952), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Sandoval (born 1970), Chilean footballer
* Nelson San Martín (born 1980), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Santana (1955–1964), Brazilian medical patient
* Nelson Santovenia (born 1961), American baseball player
* Nelson Sardelli (born 1934), Italian-Brazilian comedian
* Nelson Sardenberg (born 1970), Brazilian karate fighter
* Nelson Sardinha (born 1966), Angolan basketball player
* Nelson Sargento (1924–2021), Brazilian musician
* Nelson Saúte (born 1967), Mozambican writer
* Nelson Schwenke (??–2012), Chilean singer
* Nelson Searcy (born 1971), American minister
* Nélson Semedo (born 1993), Portuguese footballer
* Nelson Semperena (born 1984), Uruguayan footballer
* Nelson Senkatuka (born 1997), Ugandan footballer
* Nelson Rodríguez Serna (born 1965), Colombian cyclist
* Nelson Serrano (1938–2024), Ecuadorian businessman
* Nelson Setimani (born 1990), South African cricketer
* Nelson Sewankambo (born 1952), Ugandan physician
* Nelson Shanks (1937–2015), American painter
* Nelson Sharpe (1858–1935), American judge
* Nelson Shin (born 1939), Korean film executive
* Nelson Shoemaker (1911–2003), Canadian politician
* Nelson Simmons (born 1963), American baseball player
* Nelson Simões (born 1972), Brazilian footballer
* Nelson D. Simons (1885–1953), American native leader
* Nelson Sing (born 1995), Timorese footballer
* Nelson Skalbania (born 1938), Canadian engineer
* Nelson Solórzano (born 1959), Venezuelan basketball player
* Nelson Sossa (born 1986), Bolivian footballer
* Nelson Soto (born 1963), Chilean footballer and manager
* Nelson Soto (cyclist) (born 1994), Colombian cyclist
* Nelson Spencer (1876–1943), Canadian merchant
* Nelson Spruce (born 1992), American football player
* Nelson Stacy (1921–1986), American race car driver
* Nelson Stevens (1938–2022), American artist
* Nelson Stokley (1944–2010), American football player
* Nelson Stoll, American sound engineer
* Nelson Stone (born 1984), Papua New Guinean runner
* Nelson Story (1838–1926), American rancher
* Nelson Story Jr. (1878–1932), American politician
* Nelson R. Strong (1862–1930), American politician
* Nelson Suárez (born 1956), Ecuadorian diver
* Nelson Sullivan (1948–1989), American videographer

### T

* Nelson Tapia (born 1966), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Ferebee Taylor (1920–2004), American lawyer
* Nelson Teich (born 1957), Brazilian oncologist
* Nelson Terán (born 1968), Mexican composer
* Nelson Thall (born 1952), Canadian media scientist
* Nelson Thomas, American baseball player
* Nelson B. Tinnin (1905–1985), American politician
* Nelson Toburen (born 1938), American football player
* Nelson Torno (1927–2015), Argentine sports shooter
* Nelson Torres (born 1944), Chilean footballer
* Nelson Townsend (1941–2015), American athletic administrator
* Nelson Trad Sr. (1930–2011), Brazilian lawyer and politician
* Nelson Trad Filho (born 1961), Brazilian politician
* Nelson Wesley Trout (1921–1996), American bishop
* Nelson Trujillo (born 1960), Venezuelan boxer
* Nelson Tyler, American engineer

### V

* Nelson Vails (born 1960), American cyclist
* Nelson Valdez (born 1983), Paraguayan footballer
* Nelson H. Van Vorhes (1822–1882), American politician
* Nelson Vargas (born 1974), American soccer player and coach
* Nélson Vargas (born 1973), Colombian cyclist
* Nélson Veiga (born 1978), Cape Verdean footballer
* Nelson Veilleux (born 1967), Canadian professional wrestler
* Nelson Venkatesan, Indian film director
* Nelson Villagra (born 1937), Chilean actor
* Nelson Vivas (born 1969), Argentinian footballer

### W

* Nelson Wallulatum (1926–2010), Native American chief
* Nelson Wang (born 1950), Chinese-Indian restaurateur
* Nelson W. Ward (1837–1929), American army officer
* Nelson J. Waterbury (1819–1894), American politician and lawyer
* Nelson Weiper (born 2005), German footballer
* Nelson Wheatcroft (1852–1897), English actor
* Nelson E. Whitaker (1839–1909), American businessman and politician
* Nelson Williams (disambiguation), multiple people
* Nelson W. Winbush (born 1929), American educator
* Nelson Wolff (born 1940), American politician
* Nelson Woss, Australian film producer
* Nelson Ikon Wu (1919–2002), Chinese-American writer

### X

* Nelson Xavier (1941–2017), Brazilian actor

### Y

* Nelson Torres Yordán (born 1981), Puerto Rican politician

### Z

* Nelson Zamora (born 1959), Uruguayan runner
* Nelson Ryan Zamora (born 1991), Canadian soccer player
* Nelson Zeglio (1926–2019), Brazilian footballer
* Nelson Zelaya (born 1973), Paraguayan footballer

## Fictional characters

* Nelson (Ninjago), a character in Ninjago
* Nelson, a Canada goose in the 2006 Disney animated film The Wild
* Nelson, a ballast tractor in the preschool TV series Thomas & Friends
* Nelson Gabriel, a character in The Archers
* Nelson Lee (detective), a character in various British story papers
* Nelson Muntz, a character in The Simpsons
* Nelson Tethers, a character in Puzzle Agent
* Nelson Van Alden, a character in Boardwalk Empire
* Nelson van Sloan, a character in the 1989 American action comedy movie Speed Zone