Nayelis
A feminine name of Native American origin, meaning "path covered with flowers".
Name Census estimates that about 507 living Americans carry the first name Nayelis. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nayelis today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nayelis births was 2001 (43 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nayelis. 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
507
~ 1 in 676,044 Americans
Peak year
2001
43 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,268
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Nayelis: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nayelis 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 225 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nayelis 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 Nayelis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nayelis' live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. Florida, New York, Massachusetts recorded the most babies named Nayelis, while New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 32 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nayelis
The name Nayelis has its roots in the indigenous cultures of Central America, specifically the Yucatán Peninsula. It is believed to have originated from the Mayan language, where the word "nay" means "mother" or "lady," and "el" means "she." Thus, the name Nayelis can be interpreted as "she who is a mother" or "she who is a lady."
The earliest recorded use of the name Nayelis dates back to the late 16th century, during the Spanish colonization of the region. It was commonly given to Mayan women who embraced Christianity and took on a Christian name. The name's association with motherhood and femininity made it a popular choice among the Mayan people.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Nayelis was Nayelis de Xalisco, a Mayan noblewoman who lived in the late 16th century. She is mentioned in historical records as a prominent figure in her community and played a role in the preservation of Mayan cultural traditions during the Spanish conquest.
In the 18th century, Nayelis Cansino was a renowned healer and midwife in the Yucatán region. Her knowledge of traditional Mayan medicine and her dedication to helping women during childbirth earned her great respect among her people.
During the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century, Nayelis Gutiérrez was a courageous guerrilla fighter who fought alongside the revolutionary forces. Her bravery and commitment to the cause of freedom and justice made her a symbol of strength and resilience.
Another notable figure with the name Nayelis was Nayelis Montesinos, a Mayan artist and sculptor who lived in the mid-20th century. Her works celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the Mayan people and helped to preserve their artistic traditions.
In more recent times, Nayelis Chávez has been a prominent activist for indigenous rights in Central America. She has dedicated her life to advocating for the preservation of Mayan languages, cultural practices, and land rights, earning her widespread respect and admiration.
People
Nayelis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nayelis 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
Nayelis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nayelis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 507 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nayelis 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 676,044 US residents.
Is Nayelis a common name?
We classify Nayelis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 513 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nayelis most popular?
The single biggest year for Nayelis was 2001, when 43 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nayelis is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nayelis a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nayelis 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.
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.