Nikhil
An Indian masculine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "whole," "entire," or "perfect."
Name Census estimates that about 5,271 living Americans carry the first name Nikhil. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Nikhil today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nikhil births was 2007 (261 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nikhil. 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
5.3K
~ 1 in 65,026 Americans
Peak year
2007
261 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,537
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Nikhil: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nikhil from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 2,141 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nikhil 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 Nikhil during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nikhils live
The SSA's state-level files cover 20 states and territories. California, New York, New Jersey recorded the most babies named Nikhil, while Tennessee, Oregon, Wisconsin recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 188 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nikhil
The name Nikhil is of Indian origin and is derived from the Sanskrit word "Nikhila," which means "complete" or "entire." It is a popular name among Hindus and is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to its bearer.
The earliest recorded use of the name Nikhil can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures, particularly the Vedas, which are among the oldest religious texts in the world. The name is mentioned in various Vedic hymns and mantras, suggesting its significance in Hindu culture and tradition.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Nikhil is Nikhil Chakrabarti, an Indian mathematician and author who lived in the 19th century. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics and authored several books on the subject.
Another famous Nikhil in history is Nikhil Banerjee, an Indian classical musician who was a master of the sitar. He was born in 1931 and passed away in 1986. Banerjee was widely regarded as one of the greatest sitar players of his time and popularized Indian classical music globally.
Nikhil Kapur is a renowned Indian actor and film producer who has appeared in numerous Bollywood movies. He was born in 1981 and is known for his roles in films such as "Dil Chahta Hai," "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna," and "Dostana."
Nikhil Chopra is an Indian artist and performance artist who has gained international recognition for his unique and thought-provoking works. He was born in 1974 and is known for his exploration of themes such as identity, memory, and cultural displacement through his art.
Nikhil Advani is an Indian film director, producer, and screenwriter who has contributed significantly to the Hindi film industry. He was born in 1971 and has directed critically acclaimed movies like "Kal Ho Naa Ho," "Salaam-e-Ishq," and "Patiala House."
The name Nikhil has been popular among Indians for centuries and continues to be a widely chosen name for newborn boys. Its association with completeness and prosperity has made it a favored choice for parents seeking to bestow their children with blessings and good fortune.
People
Nikhil + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nikhil 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
Nikhil: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nikhil?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5,271 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nikhil 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 65,026 US residents.
Is Nikhil a common name?
We classify Nikhil as "Rare". It ranks above 96.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5,360 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nikhil most popular?
The single biggest year for Nikhil was 2007, when 261 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nikhil is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nikhil a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nikhil in the SSA data are male. 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.