Nilsa: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	22	2	–	#3,336
1950s	419	42	+1805%	#1,286
1960s	606	61	+45%	#1,260
1970s	349	35	-42%	#1,848
1980s	184	18	-47%	#3,112
1990s	103	10	-44%	#5,331
2000s	63	6	-39%	#8,994
2010s	25	3	-60%	#11,137
2020s (to 2025)	38	6	+153%	#8,394

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

#3,336

1950s

419

+1805%

#1,286

1960s

606

+45%

#1,260

1970s

349

-42%

#1,848

1980s

184

-47%

#3,112

1990s

103

-44%

#5,331

2000s

-39%

#8,994

2010s

-60%

#11,137

2020s (to 2025)

+153%

#8,394

The story of Nilsa

Nilsa is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #16,600 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1946, 1,809 American babies have been named Nilsa. Its peak came in 1960, when 76 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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 Nilsa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nilsa?

The median living Nilsa is about 57 years old; half are between 46 and 65. An estimated 1,700 people named Nilsa are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Nilsa year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	5	#16,600
2024	8	#11,869
2023	–	–
2022	13	#8,394
2021	6	#14,769
2020	6	#14,649
2019	9	#11,137
2018	–	–
2017	6	#15,420
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	5	#18,495
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	5	#18,812
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	8	#13,472
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	7	#14,106
2004	9	#11,373
2003	9	#11,082
2002	11	#9,309
2001	8	#11,770
2000	11	#8,994
1995	9	#9,332
1990	12	#7,174
1985	15	#5,018
1980	28	#3,112
1975	28	#2,727
1970	44	#1,944
1965	56	#1,493
1960	76	#1,260
1955	39	#1,659
1950	17	#2,510
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Nilsa, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Nilsa?

The median living Nilsa is about 57 years old. Half of all living Nilsas are between 46 and 65 years old.

How many people named Nilsa are alive today?

An estimated 1,700 people named Nilsa are alive in the United States, based on 1,809 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nilsa in 2025?

Nilsa ranked #16,600 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nilsa?

1,809 babies have been named Nilsa in the United States since 1946, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nilsa most popular?

Nilsa peaked in 1960, when 76 newborns received the name.

Is Nilsa a boy or girl name?

Nilsa is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Nilsa rising or falling?

Nilsa is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Nilsa

Nilsa popularity over time

The story of Nilsa

How old are people named Nilsa?

Nilsa year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Nilsa