Neelam
A feminine Hindu name derived from the Sanskrit word nila meaning "blue".
Name Census estimates that about 303 living Americans carry the first name Neelam. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Neelam today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Neelam births was 1990 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Neelam. 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
303
~ 1 in 1,131,202 Americans
Peak year
1990
27 babies that year
Average age
33
years old
2023 SSA rank
#14,648
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Neelam: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Neelam from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 141 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Neelam 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 Neelam during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Neelams live
Origin
Meaning and history of Neelam
The name Neelam is of Sanskrit origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "nila," which means "blue" or "dark blue." This name is particularly popular in India and other parts of South Asia.
In ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, "Neelam" is often associated with the precious gemstone sapphire, which has a deep blue hue. The name is believed to symbolize beauty, purity, and tranquility, making it a popular choice for parents seeking a meaningful and auspicious name for their child.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Neelam can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata. In this epic, Neelam is mentioned as the name of a princess from the kingdom of Vidarbha. This reference dates back to the 4th century BCE, suggesting that the name has been in use for over two millennia.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Neelam. One of the most famous was Neelam Sanjiva Reddy (1913-1996), who served as the sixth President of India from 1977 to 1982. Another notable figure was Neelam Krishnamoorthy (1938-2021), an accomplished Indian actress who appeared in numerous Bollywood films and television shows.
Neelam Saxena Chhiber (born 1951) is an Indian politician and former member of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's parliament. Neelam Katara (born 1977) is an Indian model and actress who has appeared in various films and television shows.
In the field of literature, Neelam Saran Gour (born 1953) is a renowned Indian novelist, poet, and critic who has written extensively in both Hindi and English. Her works explore themes of feminism, social justice, and cultural identity.
While the name Neelam has its roots in ancient Sanskrit, it continues to be a popular choice for parents in modern times, particularly in India and the South Asian diaspora. The name's association with beauty, purity, and gemstones makes it a timeless and meaningful choice for many families.
People
Neelam + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Neelam 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
Neelam: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Neelam?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 303 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Neelam 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 1,131,202 US residents.
Is Neelam a common name?
We classify Neelam as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 316 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Neelam most popular?
The single biggest year for Neelam was 1990, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Neelam is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Neelam a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Neelam 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.