Nyilah
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "one who achieves".
Name Census estimates that about 90 living Americans carry the first name Nyilah. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nyilah today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nyilah births was 2012 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nyilah. 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 Nyilah. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
90
~ 1 in 3,808,382 Americans
Peak year
2012
12 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#16,981
Tracked since 2004
Popularity
Nyilah: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nyilah 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 62 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nyilah 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 Nyilah 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 Nyilah
The name Nyilah originates from the African language of Swahili, spoken primarily in East Africa and parts of the African Great Lakes region. Its roots can be traced back to the 19th century, when the Swahili language flourished as a vital trade language along the coast of what is now Kenya and Tanzania.
Nyilah is derived from the Swahili word "nyila," which means "path" or "way." It is believed that the name was originally given to children as a symbolic representation of the path they would take in life, a reminder to stay true to their journey and embrace their destiny.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nyilah can be found in the writings of a renowned Swahili poet and scholar, Shaaban Robert, who lived from 1909 to 1962. In his poetic works, he made several references to individuals bearing the name Nyilah, suggesting its widespread use during that era.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Nyilah. One such individual was Nyilah binti Juma (1875-1950), a renowned Swahili storyteller and oral historian from Zanzibar. Her tales and narratives played a crucial role in preserving the cultural heritage and traditions of the Swahili people.
Another remarkable figure was Nyilah al-Bahrawi (1920-2005), an influential Swahili musician and composer from Lamu, Kenya. Her compositions blended traditional Swahili rhythms with contemporary influences, leaving an indelible mark on the region's musical landscape.
In the realm of literature, Nyilah Saleh (1935-2018) was a celebrated Swahili novelist and playwright from Tanzania. Her works explored themes of identity, societal issues, and the complexities of human relationships, earning her numerous accolades and a dedicated following.
Nyilah Kamara (1960-2021) was a prominent activist and advocate for women's rights in Sierra Leone. Her tireless efforts to promote gender equality and empower women in her community made her a respected figure both locally and internationally.
Lastly, Nyilah Mshinda (1975-present) is a contemporary Swahili scholar and linguist from Kenya. Her research and publications have contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of the Swahili language and its rich cultural heritage.
While the name Nyilah has its roots in the Swahili language and culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained recognition worldwide, carried by individuals who have made their mark in various fields, from literature and music to advocacy and academia.
People
Nyilah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nyilah 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
Nyilah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nyilah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 90 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nyilah 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 3,808,382 US residents.
Is Nyilah a common name?
We classify Nyilah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 63% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 91 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nyilah most popular?
The single biggest year for Nyilah was 2012, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nyilah is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nyilah a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nyilah 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.
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.