Rising since 2003, #4,139 for boys today.
Popularity of Nihaal since 1999
Babies named Nihaal per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 94 |
| 2020s | 111 |
Meaning & origin
Nihaal first entered U.S. records in 1999, with its peak popularity reached in 2025 at rank 4,139. The name's trajectory has been consistently rising since 2003, with a 1-in-68,323 occurrence rate in its latest year. Its strongest association is with California, where it appears most frequently among U.S. births. The name's Sanskrit origin and meaning 'gift' or 'blessing' reflect its cultural roots in Indian communities, where it remains a traditional choice.
Nihaal derives from Sanskrit 'nihāla', meaning 'gift' or 'blessing'. It is commonly used in India, particularly among Punjabi and Hindi-speaking communities, where it is often associated with divine grace or favor. The name gained modest usage in the United States starting in the late 1990s.
Where Nihaal is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Nihaal” around the world
Where Nihaal lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
New Zealand
10
babies in 2025
Sources: NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nih, Neil, Nihu
Sibling names for Nihaal
Names that share Nihaal's style, for a brother or sister.
