A 1930s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Nila since 1890
Babies named Nila per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2022, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Nila's real moment was 1935.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 59 |
| 1900s | 96 |
| 1910s | 347 |
| 1920s | 713 |
| 1930s | 944 |
| 1940s | 854 |
| 1950s | 833 |
| 1960s | 377 |
| 1970s | 200 |
| 1980s | 174 |
| 1990s | 219 |
| 2000s | 554 |
| 2010s | 1,063 |
| 2020s | 703 |
Meaning & origin
Nila is a feminine name of Sanskrit origin, meaning 'dark blue' or 'sapphire'. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1890, with its peak popularity in 1935. After a period of decline, the name has been rising in use since 1993. As of 2025, it ranks 1747, with about 1 in 13,856 girls receiving the name. Top states include Washington, New Jersey, and Virginia. The name shares stylistic similarities with Maya and Leela for girls, and Arjun and Ravi for boys.
Nila is a feminine name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the word nīla (नील) meaning 'dark blue' or 'sapphire'. It is a common name in India and among Hindu communities. In Bengali, it is also a feminine given name. The name has been used in the West as a variant of Nyla or a short form of names like Chanila.
Where Nila is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Nila” around the world
Where Nila lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Ireland
6
babies in 2025
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nili
Sibling names for Nila
Names that share Nila's style, for a brother or sister.
