Holding steady.
Popularity of Nilesh since 1966
Babies named Nilesh per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 73 |
| 1980s | 50 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 27 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Nilesh is a Sanskrit name meaning 'lord of the blue water,' an epithet of Vishnu and Krishna. In the United States, the name first appeared in birth records in 1966 and saw its peak popularity in 1982. Since then, its trajectory has been stable but low, with no recent rank in the top 1000. The name is primarily used within Indian-American communities and reflects cultural heritage. While it has never been widespread nationally, it carries strong spiritual and literary associations in Hinduism.
Nilesh is a Sanskrit compound name from 'nila' (blue) and 'isha' (lord), thus meaning 'lord of the blue,' an epithet of the Hindu deities Vishnu and Krishna. It is commonly used in India, particularly among Marathi and Gujarati communities. The name has been in use since the mid-20th century and gained popularity in the 1980s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nil, Nilesh
Variants: Nilesh, Nileś, Nileshwar
Sibling names for Nilesh
Names that share Nilesh's style, for a brother or sister.
