Nihira
A feminine name of Indian origin meaning "cloudless, clear sky".
Name Census estimates that about 617 living Americans carry the first name Nihira. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nihira today is around 6 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nihira births was 2022 (78 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nihira. 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
617
~ 1 in 555,518 Americans
Peak year
2022
78 babies that year
Average age
6
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,587
Tracked since 2006
Popularity
Nihira: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nihira from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 348 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nihira 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 Nihira during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nihiras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 12 states and territories. Texas, California, New Jersey recorded the most babies named Nihira, while Washington, Virginia, Pennsylvania recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 22 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nihira
The name Nihira is believed to have its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "nidhir," which means "treasure" or "wealth." The name gained prominence during the classical period of Indian history, spanning from the 3rd century BCE to the 8th century CE.
Nihira was a name commonly bestowed upon children, particularly girls, in various regions of the Indian subcontinent. It was associated with the concept of preciousness and was often chosen to reflect the parents' hopes and aspirations for their child's future prosperity and abundance.
In Hindu mythology, the name Nihira finds mention in the Puranas, a collection of ancient Indian literature. It is believed to have been the name of a celestial nymph or apsara, known for her beauty and grace. This mythological connection further cemented the name's association with preciousness and desirability.
Historically, the earliest recorded instances of the name Nihira can be traced back to inscriptions and manuscripts from the Gupta Empire, which ruled over a significant portion of the Indian subcontinent between the 4th and 6th centuries CE. During this period, the name was popular among the aristocratic and scholarly classes.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Nihira. One of the earliest documented examples is Nihira Bhat, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and poet who lived during the 9th century CE in the Kashmir region. Her contributions to literature and philosophy have been widely celebrated.
Another prominent figure was Nihira Devi, a powerful queen who ruled over the Chahamana dynasty in the 12th century CE. She was known for her political acumen and her patronage of art and culture.
In the realm of classical Indian dance, Nihira Mazumdar (1926-2017) was a pioneering figure. She played a crucial role in reviving and promoting the ancient Indian dance form of Odissi, earning her numerous accolades and honors.
The name Nihira also found its way into the world of literature through the works of renowned Indian authors. Nihira Desai (1932-2020) was a celebrated Gujarati writer and playwright, known for her thought-provoking plays and novels that explored social issues.
More recently, Nihira Joshi (born 1979) has gained recognition as a prominent Indian classical vocalist, carrying forward the rich tradition of Hindustani music. Her performances have been widely acclaimed both in India and internationally.
While these are just a few examples, the name Nihira has been borne by numerous individuals throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of Indian culture and heritage.
People
Nihira + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nihira 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
Nihira: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nihira?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 617 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nihira 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 555,518 US residents.
Is Nihira a common name?
We classify Nihira as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 621 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nihira most popular?
The single biggest year for Nihira was 2022, when 78 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nihira is about 6 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nihira a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nihira 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.