Namesakes
Emmy Award Winners:
1 actor
(actor) Craig T. Nelson 1992 Coach 
Fictional Characters from Television:
1 character
Alice Nelson 1969; 1990 The Brady Bunch; The Bradys
Hall-of-Famers:
1 basketball
(basketball) Don Nelson 2012
Notable Actors and Entertainers:
9 actors
Ozzie Nelson 1906-1975
Harriet Nelson 1909-1994
Gene Nelson 1920-1996
Craig T. Nelson 1944-
Brenda Benet (a.k.a. Nelson) 1945-1982
Judd Nelson 1959-
Tracy Nelson 1963-
Tim Blake Nelson 1964-
Kirsten Nelson 1970-
Notable Athletes:
1 football, 1 golf
(golf) Byron Nelson 1912-2006
(football) Jordy Nelson 1985-
Notable Filmmakers:
1 director, 1 screenwriter
Gene Nelson 1920-1996
Bob Nelson 1956-
Notable Military Figures:
1 admiral
Horatio Nelson 1758-1805
Notable Musicians:
4 musicians, 1 singer
Lucille Hegamin (a.k.a. Nelson) 1894-1970
Ozzie Nelson 1906-1975
Willie Nelson 1933-
Ricky Nelson 1940-1985
Prince (a.k.a. Nelson) 1958-2016
Notable Writers:
1 author/poet
Alice Dunbar Nelson 1875-1935
Olympic Medalists:
3 silver, 2 gold, 1 gold/silver, 1 silver/bronze/gold
(silver) Frank Nelson 1912 pole vault
(gold) Marjorie Jackson-Nelson 1952 100 m; 200 m
(silver/bronze/gold) John Nelson 1964; 1968 swimming - 1500 m freestyle; swimming - 200 m freestyle; swimming - 4x200 m freestyle relay
(silver) Lianne Nelson 2004 rowing
(silver) Adam Nelson 2000; 2004 shot put
(gold/silver) Dawn Harper-Nelson 2008; 2012 100 m hurdles
(gold) Lars Nelson 2014 cross-country skiing
Other Religious Leaders:
1 leader
Russell M. Nelson 2018- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famers:
6 musicians
Ricky Nelson 1987
Billy "Bass" Nelson 1997 Parliament-Funkadelic
Nate Nelson 2001 The Flamingos
Prince (a.k.a. Nelson) 2004
Albert King (a.k.a. Nelson) 2013
Willie Nelson 2023
Saints:
1 blessed
Blessed John Nelson 1534-1578