Nishal first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Nishal has been for the last 11 years (from 2012 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Nishal

A unisex name of Sanskrit origin meaning "night", "starry night", or "bright".

Popularity of Nishal by gender

Based on the last 11 years of data, Nishal is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 6 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Nishal.

Year Male Count Female Count
2022 6 0
2018 6 0
2017 6 0
2016 7 0
2014 6 0
2013 6 0
2012 6 0

The history of the first name Nishal

The name Nishal has its origins in the Sanskrit language, tracing back to ancient India. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "nish," meaning night or darkness, combined with the suffix "al," which denotes a quality or state. Thus, Nishal can be interpreted as "relating to the night" or "the one who possesses the qualities of the night."

In Hindu mythology, the night is often personified as a deity, and the name Nishal may have been used to honor this divine presence. Some scholars suggest that the name could also be associated with the moon, which shines brightly at night, or with the darker aspects of spiritual enlightenment.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Nishal can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit texts and inscriptions from the 5th century BCE. One notable mention is found in the Mahabharata, a renowned Hindu epic poem, where a character with this name is described as a wise and learned sage.

Throughout history, several prominent figures have borne the name Nishal. One of the earliest was Nishal Shastri, a revered Indian scholar and philosopher who lived in the 8th century CE. He is renowned for his contributions to the study of Hindu scriptures and his influential commentaries on the Vedas.

In the 12th century, Nishal Khan was a celebrated military commander and strategist who served under the Delhi Sultanate. His tactical prowess and leadership skills were instrumental in several victories against invading forces, earning him a place in the annals of Indian history.

During the 16th century, Nishal Das was a renowned poet and mystic from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. His devotional verses, known as bhajans, were widely popular and continue to be sung in spiritual gatherings to this day.

In more recent times, Nishal Nath Bose (1901-1981) was an Indian physicist and mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. He is particularly known for his work on the Bose-Einstein condensate, a state of matter predicted by himself and Albert Einstein.

Another notable figure was Nishal Singh Rana (1924-2008), an Indian politician and social activist who dedicated his life to the upliftment of marginalized communities. He served as a member of the Indian Parliament and played a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of indigenous tribes and other underprivileged groups.

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 Nishal was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Nishal first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 4, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/nishal-meaning-and-history/.

"Nishal first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/nishal-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 4 July, 2025

Nishal first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/nishal-meaning-and-history/.

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