Nihal
Every Nihal since 1993 — 1,063 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Nihal
Nihal is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,971 in 2025 with 42 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1993, 1,063 American babies have been named Nihal — about 78% boys and 22% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2016, when 61 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Nihal stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Nihal year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | #8,721 | 42 | #2,971 |
| 2024 | 15 | #7,501 | 41 | #3,033 |
| 2023 | 7 | #13,085 | 32 | #3,605 |
| 2022 | 12 | #8,906 | 25 | #4,258 |
| 2021 | 14 | #7,914 | 39 | #3,107 |
| 2020 | 11 | #9,376 | 22 | #4,507 |
| 2019 | 10 | #10,272 | 34 | #3,407 |
| 2018 | 12 | #9,010 | 30 | #3,678 |
| 2017 | 17 | #7,020 | 37 | #3,175 |
| 2016 | 23 | #5,747 | 38 | #3,103 |
| 2015 | 11 | #9,967 | 41 | #2,900 |
| 2014 | 13 | #8,832 | 41 | #2,875 |
| 2013 | 18 | #6,945 | 35 | #3,168 |
| 2012 | 9 | #11,973 | 30 | #3,604 |
| 2011 | 14 | #8,515 | 30 | #3,576 |
| 2010 | 6 | #16,411 | 27 | #3,870 |
| 2009 | 8 | #13,360 | 28 | #3,797 |
| 2008 | 6 | #16,907 | 25 | #4,108 |
| 2007 | 9 | #12,386 | 25 | #4,085 |
| 2006 | — | — | 18 | #5,001 |
| 2005 | — | — | 34 | #3,069 |
| 2004 | — | — | 31 | #3,199 |
| 2003 | — | — | 18 | #4,568 |
| 2002 | — | — | 13 | #5,634 |
| 2001 | 5 | #17,212 | 24 | #3,589 |
| 2000 | — | — | 19 | #4,167 |
| 1995 | — | — | 9 | #6,260 |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Nihal
- Nihal Atsız Writer · 1905–1975
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Nihal in 2025?
Nihal ranked #2,971 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 42 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Nihal?
1,063 babies have been named Nihal in the United States since 1993, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Nihal most popular?
Nihal peaked in 2016, when 61 newborns received the name.
Is Nihal a boy or girl name?
Nihal is used for both: about 22% of babies named Nihal have been girls and 78% boys.
Is the name Nihal rising or falling?
Nihal has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Nihal?
Well-known people named Nihal include Nihal Atsız (writer).