Neela
An Indian feminine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "blue" or "dark blue".
Name Census estimates that about 1,307 living Americans carry the first name Neela. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Neela today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Neela births was 2007 (103 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Neela. 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.
Key insights
- • Neela is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 16 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.3K
~ 1 in 262,245 Americans
Peak year
2007
103 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,032
Tracked since 1972
Popularity
Neela: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Neela from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 523 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Neela remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Neela 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 Neela during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Neelas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Neela, while Ohio, Minnesota, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 27 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Neela
The name Neela finds its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that served as the vehicle for Hindu scriptures and cultural expressions in the Indian subcontinent. Neela is derived from the Sanskrit word "nila," which translates to "blue" or "dark blue." This association with the color blue is believed to be rooted in the natural world, as the name may have been inspired by the deep hues of the sky or the vibrant shades of certain gemstones.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Neela can be traced back to various Hindu texts and scriptures, where it was often used as a descriptor for deities or celestial beings associated with the color blue. In the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics, there are references to the "Neela Sarovara," a sacred blue lake revered for its spiritual significance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Neela. One of the earliest recorded figures was Neela Devi (1032-1092 CE), a powerful ruler of the Chahamana dynasty in present-day Rajasthan, India. She was known for her military prowess and her efforts to expand the kingdom's territories.
Another significant figure was Neela Desai (1925-2009), an Indian freedom fighter and social activist who played a crucial role in the country's independence movement. She was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and worked tirelessly to promote women's rights and social justice.
In the realm of arts and culture, Neela Vaswani (born 1972) is a renowned Indian-American author and educator. Her works, which often explore themes of identity, cultural duality, and the immigrant experience, have garnered critical acclaim and numerous awards.
The name Neela has also been embraced in various forms of entertainment. Neela Debnath (born 1961) is a popular Bengali actress and dancer who has graced both the silver screen and the stage with her performances, earning numerous accolades throughout her career.
Additionally, Neela Satyanarayan (1925-2018) was an accomplished Indian classical dancer and choreographer. She dedicated her life to preserving and promoting the rich traditions of Indian dance forms, earning numerous honors and awards for her contributions to the art form.
While the name Neela has its roots in the ancient Sanskrit language, it has transcended geographical and cultural boundaries, resonating with individuals worldwide for its unique meaning and historical significance.
People
Neela + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Neela 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
Neela: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Neela?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,307 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Neela 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 262,245 US residents.
Is Neela a common name?
We classify Neela as "Rare". It ranks above 91.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,326 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Neela most popular?
The single biggest year for Neela was 2007, when 103 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Neela is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Neela a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Neela 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.