Nihla
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "sprout" or "sapling".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Nihla. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nihla today is around 30 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nihla births was 1935 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nihla. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Nihla. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
1935
13 babies that year
Average age
30
years old
2011 SSA rank
#10,968
Tracked since 1918
Popularity
Nihla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nihla from the 1910s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 13 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Nihla remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nihla 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 Nihla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nihla
The name Nihla is believed to have originated from the Arabic language, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Eastern region. The name is derived from the Arabic word "nihlah," which means "the gift" or "the blessing." This linguistic connection suggests that Nihla carries a significant meaning of being a cherished gift or a blessing from a higher power.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nihla can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature, where it was often used as a symbolic representation of divine grace and favor. In some Islamic texts, the name is mentioned in reference to the concept of gratitude and appreciation for the blessings bestowed upon individuals.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nihla. One such figure was Nihla bint al-Husayn (born in the 7th century), a prominent Arab scholar and poet renowned for her contributions to Arabic literature during the Umayyad Caliphate. Her poetic works often celebrated the beauty of nature and explored themes of love and spirituality.
Another notable bearer of the name was Nihla al-Rawi (1908-1995), an Iraqi artist and pioneer in the field of modern Arab painting. Her works, which often depicted scenes from everyday life in Baghdad, played a significant role in shaping the development of contemporary Iraqi art.
In the realm of politics, Nihla Dhull (born in 1945) was an influential Indian politician and social activist. She served as a member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly and actively advocated for women's rights and empowerment in her region.
The name Nihla has also been associated with literary figures, such as Nihla Awad (born in 1965), a Palestinian writer and novelist. Her works have explored themes of displacement, identity, and the Palestinian experience, earning her critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.
Additionally, Nihla Thabit (born in 1977) is a renowned Egyptian singer and actress who has made significant contributions to the Arab entertainment industry. Her powerful vocal performances and acting skills have earned her a devoted fan base across the Middle East.
It is worth noting that while the name Nihla has its roots in Arabic culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and found resonance in various parts of the world, with individuals from diverse backgrounds embracing the name and its symbolic meaning.
People
Nihla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nihla 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
Nihla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nihla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nihla 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Nihla a common name?
We classify Nihla as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 30 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nihla most popular?
The single biggest year for Nihla was 1935, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nihla is about 30 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Nihla in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nihla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nihla 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.
Is Nihla still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nihla in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Nihla can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Nihla?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.