Nyala: 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	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	–	–	–	–
1980s	6	1	–	#10,834
1990s	32	3	+433%	#8,423
2000s	111	11	+247%	#7,272
2010s	117	12	+5%	#7,344
2020s (to 2025)	65	11	-7%	#7,926

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

1980s

–

#10,834

1990s

+433%

#8,423

2000s

111

+247%

#7,272

2010s

117

+5%

#7,344

2020s (to 2025)

-7%

#7,926

The story of Nyala

Nyala is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #12,841 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1987, 331 American babies have been named Nyala. Its peak came in 2009, when 18 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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

How old are people named Nyala?

The median living Nyala is about 14 years old; half are between 8 and 21. An estimated 300 people named Nyala 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.

Nyala year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	7	#12,841
2024	10	#10,064
2023	12	#8,844
2022	14	#7,934
2021	14	#7,926
2020	8	#11,850
2019	8	#12,137
2018	8	#12,200
2017	16	#7,344
2016	13	#8,749
2015	16	#7,516
2014	7	#14,192
2013	14	#8,460
2012	14	#8,521
2011	14	#8,520
2010	7	#14,583
2009	18	#7,272
2008	15	#8,434
2007	13	#9,407
2006	7	#14,721
2005	12	#9,307
2004	13	#8,597
2003	8	#12,100
2002	8	#11,906
2001	9	#10,777
2000	8	#11,510
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Nyala?

The median living Nyala is about 14 years old. Half of all living Nyalas are between 8 and 21 years old.

How many people named Nyala are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Nyala are alive in the United States, based on 331 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nyala in 2025?

Nyala ranked #12,841 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nyala?

331 babies have been named Nyala in the United States since 1987, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nyala most popular?

Nyala peaked in 2009, when 18 newborns received the name.

Is Nyala a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Nyala rising or falling?

Nyala is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Nyala

Nyala popularity over time

The story of Nyala

How old are people named Nyala?

Nyala year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Nyala