Declining since 2019, #4,460 for girls today.
Popularity of Nalah since 1995
Babies named Nalah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 20 |
| 2000s | 124 |
| 2010s | 555 |
| 2020s | 302 |
Meaning & origin
Nalah first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1995, a modern invention that climbed gradually. Its peak came in 2020 at rank 4460, but by 2025 it had fallen in popularity, continuing a downward trajectory since 2019. Currently, about 1 in 51847 girls are named Nalah, placing it firmly in the ranks of uncommon contemporary names. Its similarity to Nala, popularized by Disney's The Lion King, likely contributed to its use, but the 'h' spelling remains rare. Unlike older names with deep historical roots, Nalah reflects a trend of creative respelling and fashionable ending sounds.
Nalah is a modern coinage that likely draws from the name Nala, which has multiple origins. Nala appears in Hindu mythology as a king, but also as a female lion in Disney's The Lion King, popularizing a feminine usage. The addition of the 'h' at the end creates a variant spelling. Since the name first appeared in U.S. records in 1995 and has gained modest use since, it is considered a contemporary invention rather than a traditional name.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nali, Lala
Sibling names for Nalah
Names that share Nalah's style, for a brother or sister.
