Nyalee
A feminine name of uncertain origin and meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 59 living Americans carry the first name Nyalee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nyalee today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nyalee births was 2014 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nyalee. 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 Nyalee. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
59
~ 1 in 5,809,396 Americans
Peak year
2014
12 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2021 SSA rank
#13,131
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Nyalee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nyalee from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 40 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Nyalee remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nyalee 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 Nyalee 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 Nyalee
The name Nyalee is a unique and intriguing moniker that carries a rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic influences. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Mesopotamian civilization, where it was derived from the Akkadian language, spoken in the region encompassing modern-day Iraq and parts of Syria and Turkey.
In Akkadian, the root word "naʾalu" held the meaning of "to carry" or "to bear," suggesting that Nyalee may have been bestowed upon individuals who possessed strength and resilience. This interpretation is further reinforced by the similarity of the name to the Babylonian goddess Naʾiltu, who was revered as the protector of children and childbirth.
The earliest known recorded instance of the name Nyalee dates back to the 7th century BCE, where it appeared in cuneiform inscriptions found in the ancient city of Babylon. These inscriptions documented the name as belonging to a high-ranking official within the Babylonian court, indicating the potential prestige and esteem associated with the moniker during that era.
Throughout the centuries, several notable figures have borne the name Nyalee, leaving an indelible mark on various spheres of human endeavor. One such figure was Nyalee of Antioch (circa 250 CE), a revered Christian martyr who faced persecution for her unwavering faith during the Roman Empire's reign. Her unwavering devotion and courage in the face of adversity have been celebrated and revered by generations of believers.
In the realm of literature, Nyalee al-Khayyam (1048 - 1131 CE) was a renowned Persian polymath, philosopher, and poet. His profound works, such as the Rubaiyat, have transcended time and continue to inspire and captivate readers worldwide, showcasing the enduring legacy associated with this remarkable name.
Another notable figure bearing the name Nyalee was Nyalee al-Samarkandi (1456 - 1534 CE), a pioneering Islamic scholar and mathematician from the city of Samarkand, located in present-day Uzbekistan. Her contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the realm of algebra and geometry, paved the way for future advancements and earned her a place among the most influential minds of her time.
Lastly, Nyalee Gebara (1892 - 1976 CE) was a renowned Egyptian artist and sculptor whose works celebrated the rich cultural heritage of her homeland. Her intricate sculptures and installations, often inspired by ancient Egyptian motifs, earned her international acclaim and cemented her legacy as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.
These illustrious individuals, spanning diverse eras and fields, exemplify the enduring legacy and significance of the name Nyalee, which has transcended geographical and temporal boundaries, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of human history and cultural heritage.
People
Nyalee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nyalee 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
Nyalee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nyalee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 59 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nyalee 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 5,809,396 US residents.
Is Nyalee a common name?
We classify Nyalee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 56.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 59 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nyalee most popular?
The single biggest year for Nyalee was 2014, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nyalee is about 11 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 Nyalee in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nyalee a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nyalee 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 Nyalee still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nyalee 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 Nyalee 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 Nyalee as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.