Nawaal
A feminine Arabic name meaning "the gift of God".
Name Census estimates that about 113 living Americans carry the first name Nawaal. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nawaal today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nawaal births was 2014 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nawaal. 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.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Nawaal with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
113
~ 1 in 3,033,224 Americans
Peak year
2014
11 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#14,724
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Nawaal: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nawaal 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 63 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Nawaal remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nawaal 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 Nawaal during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nawaals live
Origin
Meaning and history of Nawaal
Nawaal is a name of Arabic origin, derived from the word "nawal," which means "attainment" or "achievement." The name has its roots in the Arabic language and culture, dating back to ancient times.
In the historical context, the name Nawaal is believed to have been mentioned in some ancient Arabic texts and literary works, although specific references are difficult to confirm. It is possible that the name was used by early Arab scholars, poets, or other influential figures, reflecting the cultural significance of attaining knowledge and achievements.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Nawaal can be found in the chronicles of the Abbasid Caliphate, a powerful Islamic empire that ruled from the 8th to the 13th century. During this golden age of Islamic civilization, the name may have been associated with individuals who excelled in various fields, such as literature, science, or philosophy.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nawaal. One prominent figure was Nawaal al-Qasimi (1930-2020), a Kuwaiti writer and poet known for her contributions to modern Arabic literature. Her works explored themes of love, identity, and social issues, earning her acclaim both within the Arab world and internationally.
Another noteworthy person named Nawaal was Nawaal El Saadawi (1931-2021), an Egyptian feminist writer, activist, and physician. She was a pioneering voice in the fight for women's rights and gender equality, using her writings and activism to challenge societal norms and advocate for progressive change.
In the realm of sports, Nawaal El Moutawakel (born 1962) from Morocco made history as the first woman from an Islamic nation to win an Olympic gold medal. Her victory in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a significant achievement, inspiring women across the Arab world and beyond.
Another notable figure was Nawaal Al-Thani (1923-2008), a member of the Qatari royal family and a prominent philanthropist. She played an instrumental role in establishing educational institutions and promoting the advancement of women's rights in Qatar.
Finally, Nawaal Al-Sadawi (1943-2021) was an Iraqi artist celebrated for her contributions to contemporary Arab art. Her vibrant paintings and sculptures explored themes of identity, culture, and the human condition, earning her international recognition and numerous awards throughout her career.
People
Nawaal + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nawaal 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
Nawaal: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nawaal?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 113 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nawaal 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 3,033,224 US residents.
Is Nawaal a common name?
We classify Nawaal as "Very Rare". It ranks above 66.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 114 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nawaal most popular?
The single biggest year for Nawaal was 2014, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nawaal 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 Nawaal in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nawaal a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nawaal 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 Nawaal still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nawaal 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 Nawaal 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 called Nawaal?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.