Nylen
A name of uncertain origin, possibly Scandinavian.
Name Census estimates that about 107 living Americans carry the first name Nylen. It is a predominantly male name (95.4% of registrations). The average person named Nylen today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nylen births was 2016 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nylen. 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.
People living today
107
~ 1 in 3,203,312 Americans
Peak year
2016
13 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#8,755
Tracked since 2005
Gender
Gender distribution for Nylen
Nylen leans heavily male at 95.4% of total registrations, but 5 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Nylen as a male name
- Ranked #8,755 in 2024
- 9 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2016 (13 births)
Nylen as a female name
- Ranked #18,454 in 2005
- 5 female births in 2005
- Peak: 2005 (5 births)
Popularity
Nylen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nylen 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 59 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Nylen remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nylen 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 Nylen 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 Nylen
The given name Nylen has its origins in the ancient Norse language, which was spoken by the Viking people who inhabited the Scandinavian region during the Middle Ages. The name is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word "nyl," which translates to "new" or "fresh." This suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon those who were born at the start of a new era or during a significant period of renewal or change.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Nylen can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of literary works that recount the tales and exploits of the Norse settlers in Iceland during the Viking Age. These sagas, written between the 12th and 14th centuries, often featured characters with names that reflected their unique personalities or circumstances.
Throughout the centuries, the name Nylen has been borne by several notable individuals, each leaving their mark on history in their own way. One such individual was Nylen Eriksson, a renowned Viking explorer who is said to have led expeditions to the shores of Greenland and North America in the late 10th century. His exploits were chronicled in the Icelandic Sagas, cementing his place in the annals of Norse history.
Another notable figure was Nylen Thorvaldsson, a skilled craftsman and blacksmith who lived in the 11th century. His intricate metalwork and weapons were highly sought after by the Viking warriors of his time, and he was credited with revolutionizing the art of smithing in the Scandinavian region.
In the realm of literature, Nylen Sigurdsson was a celebrated skald (poet) of the 13th century. His poetic compositions were widely acclaimed and often recounted the heroic deeds of Viking kings and warriors. Many of his works have been preserved in the Poetic Edda, a collection of Old Norse poetry that provides a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Viking Age.
During the era of Norse colonization and settlement, the name Nylen was also borne by Nylen Eiriksdottir, a prominent figure in the establishment of the Icelandic Commonwealth. As one of the first settlers in Iceland, she played a pivotal role in shaping the social and political structures of the nascent nation.
Lastly, in the realm of religion and spirituality, Nylen Thorgilsson was a revered Norse priest and mystic who lived in the 10th century. His deep knowledge of the ancient Norse beliefs and rituals earned him a reputation as a wise and influential figure among the Viking communities of his time.
People
Nylen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nylen 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
Nylen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nylen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 107 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nylen 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 3,203,312 US residents.
Is Nylen a common name?
We classify Nylen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 65.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 108 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nylen most popular?
The single biggest year for Nylen was 2016, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nylen is about 10 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 Nylen in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nylen a male name?
Yes, 95.4% of people registered as Nylen in the SSA data are male. 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 Nylen still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nylen 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 Nylen 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 are called Nylen?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.