Nyla
Of Sanskrit origin meaning "dark blue".
Name Census estimates that about 25,028 living Americans carry the first name Nyla. It sits at #230 in the overall ranking, outside the top 50 but still well-represented. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nyla today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nyla births was 2024 (1,339 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nyla. 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
- • Nyla is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 15 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
25K
~ 1 in 13,695 Americans
Peak year
2024
1,339 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2024 SSA rank
#230
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Nyla: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nyla from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 10,358 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Nyla remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nyla 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 Nyla during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nylas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 45 states and territories. Texas, New York, California recorded the most babies named Nyla, while South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 517 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nyla
Nyla is a feminine given name with roots in multiple languages and cultures. It is believed to have originated from the Arabic word "naylaa," which means "bearer of good news" or "attainer of wishes." The name's origins can be traced back to the Middle East and Islamic cultures, where it has been used for centuries.
In Indian cultures, Nyla is derived from the Sanskrit word "nila," meaning "blue" or "dark blue." This connection to the color blue may have symbolized qualities like calmness, depth, and spirituality. The name's Indian variant, "Neela," shares a similar meaning and has been popular in various parts of the subcontinent.
The earliest recorded use of Nyla dates back to the 7th century CE, when it appeared in Arabic literature and historical records. During this time, the name was associated with strong, independent women who played significant roles in their communities.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Nyla was Nyla al-Andalusiyya, a 10th-century Arab poet and scholar from Cordoba, Spain. She was renowned for her contributions to literature and her expertise in various fields, including linguistics and philosophy.
In the 12th century, Nyla al-Dimashqiyya, a Syrian scholar and historian, gained recognition for her writings on the history of Damascus and its notable figures. Her work provided valuable insights into the cultural and intellectual life of the region during that era.
Another prominent figure with the name Nyla was Nyla Khanum, a 16th-century Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Akbar. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for women's education in the Mughal Empire.
In more recent history, Nyla Ali Khan, an American academic and author born in 1963, has made significant contributions to the study of South Asian literature and culture. Her works explore themes of identity, diaspora, and postcolonial perspectives.
Nyla Puttar, a Canadian actress and model born in 1987, has gained recognition for her roles in various television shows and films, including her portrayal of Tara in the hit series "The Handmaid's Tale."
People
Nyla + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nyla 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
Nyla: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nyla?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 25,028 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nyla 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 13,695 US residents.
Is Nyla a common name?
We classify Nyla as "Uncommon". It ranks above 98.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 26,387 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nyla most popular?
The single biggest year for Nyla was 2024, when 1,339 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nyla is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nyla a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nyla 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.