Rising since 1988, #3,342 for girls today.
Popularity of Nawal since 1976
Babies named Nawal per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 16 |
| 1980s | 69 |
| 1990s | 167 |
| 2000s | 391 |
| 2010s | 482 |
| 2020s | 239 |
Meaning & origin
Nawal is an Arabic name meaning 'gift' or 'grant from God,' reflecting a tradition of naming children after qualities of divine generosity. In the United States, it has been in use since at least 1976, when it first appeared in Social Security records. Its popularity has been rising gradually since 1988, with a peak in 2019; in 2025 it ranked 3,342, with about 1 in 34,941 newborns receiving the name. The name is most common in Minnesota and New York, states with significant Arab American communities. Despite its long history in the Arabic-speaking world, Nawal remains a distinctive choice in the U.S., appealing to parents seeking a name with both cultural resonance and a beautiful, straightforward meaning.
Nawal derives from the Arabic root ن-و-ل (n-w-l), associated with giving and bestowal. The name is used across the Arabic-speaking world and carries the literal sense of 'something given freely' or 'a grant.' It has been borne as a feminine given name in many Muslim-majority countries, appearing in classical literature and modern use alike.
Where Nawal is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Nawal” around the world
Where Nawal lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Sibling names for Nawal
Names that share Nawal's style, for a brother or sister.
