Neala
A feminine given name of Irish origin meaning "champion" or "bright".
Name Census estimates that about 535 living Americans carry the first name Neala. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Neala today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Neala births was 2009 (38 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Neala. 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
535
~ 1 in 640,662 Americans
Peak year
2009
38 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#10,814
Tracked since 1938
Popularity
Neala: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Neala from the 1930s through to the 2020s, spanning 10 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 229 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
Neala 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 Neala during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nealas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, New York, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Neala, while Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 9 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Neala
The name Neala is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "niadh," which means "champion" or "warrior." It has its origins in ancient Celtic culture and is closely associated with Ireland's rich history and mythology.
Neala was a popular name among the Celtic tribes that inhabited Ireland before the arrival of Christianity. It was often given to children born into families of warriors or chieftains, symbolizing strength, courage, and leadership.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Neala can be found in the legendary tales of the Ulster Cycle, a collection of heroic stories that date back to the 8th century AD. In these tales, Neala is mentioned as the name of a fierce warrior who fought alongside the legendary hero Cú Chulainn.
During the medieval period, the name Neala gained popularity among Irish nobility and was often associated with powerful families and clans. Several historical records from this time period mention individuals bearing this name, although specific details are scarce.
One notable figure with the name Neala was Neala Ó Maoilchonaire, a renowned Irish poet and scholar who lived in the 12th century. His compositions and writings played a significant role in preserving Irish culture and language during a time of political turmoil.
Another prominent individual with the name Neala was Neala Ní Bhriain, a 16th-century Irish noblewoman and chieftain of the Uí Bhriain clan. She was known for her leadership skills and her efforts to defend her clan's lands against English colonization.
In the 18th century, Neala Ní Dhomhnaill, a celebrated Irish harpist and composer, contributed to the preservation of traditional Irish music. Her compositions and performances were widely acclaimed and helped to keep the tradition of Irish harp music alive during a period of cultural suppression.
Throughout the centuries, the name Neala has continued to be used in Ireland, although its popularity has waned in recent times. It remains a significant part of Ireland's cultural heritage, reflecting the country's rich history and the enduring spirit of its ancient Celtic roots.
People
Neala + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Neala 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
Neala: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Neala?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 535 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Neala 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 640,662 US residents.
Is Neala a common name?
We classify Neala as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 587 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Neala most popular?
The single biggest year for Neala was 2009, when 38 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Neala is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Neala a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Neala 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.