Namesakes
John Nelson
(m) 1534-1578 
Saints
Horatio Nelson
(m) 1758-1805
Notable Military Figures
Alice Dunbar Nelson
(f) 1875-1935
Notable Writers
Frank Nelson
(m) 1887-1970
Olympic Medalists 1912 pole vault (silver)
Lucille Hegamin
(a.k.a. Nelson) (f) 1894-1970
Notable Musicians
Ozzie Nelson
(m) 1906-1975
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Notable Musicians
Harriet Nelson
(f) 1909-1994
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Byron Nelson
(m) 1912-2006
Notable Athletes (golf)
Gene Nelson
(m) 1920-1996
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Notable Filmmakers
Albert King
(a.k.a. Nelson) (m) 1923-1992
Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers 2013
Russell M. Nelson
(m) 1924-
Other Religious Leaders 2018- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Marjorie Jackson-Nelson
(f) 1931-
Olympic Medalists 1952 100 m; 200 m (gold)
Nate Nelson
(m) 1932-1984
Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers 2001 The Flamingos
Willie Nelson
(m) 1933-
Notable Musicians
Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers 2023
Ricky Nelson
(m) 1940-1985
Notable Musicians
Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers 1987
Don Nelson
(m) 1940-
Hall-of-Famers 2012 (basketball)
Craig T. Nelson
(m) 1944-
Emmy Award Winners 1992 Coach (actor)
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Brenda Benet
(a.k.a. Nelson) (f) 1945-1982
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
John Nelson
(m) 1948-
Olympic Medalists 1964; 1968 swimming - 1500 m freestyle; swimming - 200 m freestyle; swimming - 4x200 m freestyle relay (silver/bronze/gold)
Billy "Bass" Nelson
(m) 1951-
Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers 1997 Parliament-Funkadelic
Bob Nelson
(m) 1956-
Notable Filmmakers
Prince
(a.k.a. Nelson) (m) 1958-2016
Notable Musicians
Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers 2004
Judd Nelson
(m) 1959-
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Tracy Nelson
(f) 1963-
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Tim Blake Nelson
(m) 1964-
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Alice Nelson
(f)
Fictional Characters from Television 1969; 1990 The Brady Bunch; The Bradys
Kirsten Nelson
(f) 1970-
Notable Actors and Entertainers (actor)
Lianne Nelson
(f) 1972-
Olympic Medalists 2004 rowing (silver)
Adam Nelson
(m) 1975-
Olympic Medalists 2000; 2004 shot put (silver)
Dawn Harper-Nelson
(f) 1984-
Olympic Medalists 2008; 2012 100 m hurdles (gold/silver)
Jordy Nelson
(m) 1985-
Notable Athletes (football)
Lars Nelson
(m) 1985-
Olympic Medalists 2014 cross-country skiing (gold)