Naileah
A feminine name derived from the Arabic word "nailah" meaning "attained" or "achieved".
Name Census estimates that about 143 living Americans carry the first name Naileah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Naileah today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Naileah births was 2021 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Naileah. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
143
~ 1 in 2,396,883 Americans
Peak year
2021
14 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,259
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Naileah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Naileah from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 59 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Naileah by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Naileah during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Naileahs live
Origin
Meaning and history of Naileah
The name Naileah is a relatively modern name with uncertain origins, but it is believed to be derived from the Arabic word "na'ilah," which means "attainable" or "achievable." Its roots can be traced back to the Arabic language and culture, but the exact time period and region of its first use are unclear.
Some linguists suggest that the name Naileah may have evolved from the Arabic name "Nailah," which has a similar pronunciation and meaning. Nailah is a traditional Arabic name that means "one who achieves" or "successful." It is possible that Naileah was created as a variation or alternative spelling of this older name.
While the name Naileah does not have a long historical record, it has gained popularity in recent decades, particularly in certain regions and cultural communities. However, there are no known instances of the name appearing in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records from earlier eras.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Naileah are relatively recent, dating back to the late 20th century or early 21st century. As a modern name, there are no famous historical figures specifically associated with the name Naileah. However, here are five individuals who have been notable in their respective fields and have carried this name:
1. Naileah Williams, an American actress and model born in the late 20th century, known for her roles in television shows and films.
2. Naileah Rashid, a Pakistani-American journalist and news anchor born in the 1980s, known for her work in various media outlets.
3. Naileah Khalil, an Egyptian artist and sculptor born in the late 20th century, known for her contemporary art exhibitions and installations.
4. Naileah Syed, a British-Pakistani author and writer born in the late 20th century, known for her novels and short stories exploring diverse cultural themes.
5. Naileah Khan, an American fashion designer and entrepreneur born in the late 20th century, known for her clothing line and fashion brand.
While the name Naileah is relatively new and its origins are not deeply rooted in history, it has gained popularity in recent times and has been adopted by individuals from various cultural backgrounds, reflecting its modern and multicultural appeal.
People
Naileah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Naileah as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Naileah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Naileah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 143 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Naileah going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,396,883 US residents.
Is Naileah a common name?
We classify Naileah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 144 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Naileah most popular?
The single biggest year for Naileah was 2021, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Naileah is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Naileah in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Naileah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Naileah in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Naileah still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Naileah in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Naileah can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Naileah?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.