Find out how popular the first name Nilay has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Nilay by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Nilay is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 93% of people named Nilay being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 7 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Nilay.

It's also interesting to see that despite Nilay being historically a mostly male name, the most recent data from 2023 shows a shift in the trend, with more female babies being named Nilay.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 7 baby girls were named Nilay in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Nilay

The name Nilay has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language from the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "nilaya," which means "abode" or "dwelling place." It is believed to have been in use as a given name in India since ancient times.

In Hindu mythology, the name Nilay is associated with Lord Vishnu, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Lord Vishnu is often depicted as residing in the sacred abode of Vaikuntha, which is considered a celestial realm or paradise. This connection with the divine abode may have contributed to the popularity of the name Nilay among Hindus.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nilay can be found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic dating back to around the 8th century BCE. The Mahabharata mentions a character named Nilay, who was a son of the sage Valmiki.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nilay. One such person was Nilay Purkayastha (1906-1996), an Indian politician and freedom fighter who played an active role in India's struggle for independence from British rule.

Another prominent figure with the name Nilay was Nilay Dutta (1928-2001), a renowned Indian classical singer and composer. He was a leading exponent of the Khayal style of Hindustani classical music and received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the art form.

In the field of literature, Nilay Basu (1925-2008) was a celebrated Bengali author and playwright. He is best known for his novels and short stories that explored themes of social injustice and the human condition.

Nilay Patel, born in 1984, is an American technology journalist and the co-founder of the popular technology website The Verge. He has gained a significant following for his insightful coverage and analysis of the tech industry.

Lastly, Nilay Chakrabarti (born 1957) is an Indian physicist and academic. He is a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and has made significant contributions to the field of theoretical physics, particularly in the areas of condensed matter physics and statistical mechanics.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Nilay was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nilay, please contact us.

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