Holding steady, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Niala since 2002
Babies named Niala per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 55 |
| 2010s | 88 |
| 2020s | 32 |
Meaning & origin
Niala is a modern American name that first appeared in U.S. records in 2002. It reached its peak popularity in 2016, yet even then it remained quite rare. As of 2025, it ranks 14,942, with only about 1 in 321,453 newborn girls receiving the name. The trajectory has been stable, with no dramatic swings. The name has not been strongly associated with any particular state, suggesting a scattered but persistent use across the country. While its origins are uncertain, Niala fits into the contemporary trend of melodic, vowel-heavy names ending in 'a'.
Niala is a modern coinage, first recorded in the United States in 2002. It likely arose as a feminine elaboration of the Irish name Niall or as a variant of Nyla, itself a modern invention. The name has seen steady but modest use since the 2000s, peaking in 2016, and is primarily used for girls.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nia, Lala, Nali
Variants: Nialah, Niyala
Sibling names for Niala
Names that share Niala's style, for a brother or sister.
