Declining since 2022, #10,107 for girls today.
Popularity of Nilaya since 2006
Babies named Nilaya per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 33 |
| 2010s | 35 |
| 2020s | 50 |
Meaning & origin
Nilaya is a Sanskrit name meaning 'home,' first recorded in U.S. data in 2006. It reached its peak popularity in 2023 and has seen a slight decline in recent years, with its trajectory falling since 2022. Despite its relatively low rank (10107 in 2025), its rarity (1 in 178,585 births) gives it a distinctive feel. The name has not appeared among any top states, indicating broad but light usage. It fits alongside other melodic -a ending names like Anaya and Maya.
Nilaya derives from the Sanskrit word nilaya (निलय), meaning 'home', 'abode', or 'dwelling'. The name is used in India and among diaspora communities, and has gained some popularity as a girls' name in the United States since the early 2000s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nila, Laya, Nili
Variants: Nila, Neelaya
Sibling names for Nilaya
Names that share Nilaya's style, for a brother or sister.
