Neela
Girl name · #3313 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Neela? In official American birth records, Neela has been tracked continuously since 1972, giving it 53 years of documented American history.
Neela is currently the #3313 girl name in the United States — 47 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #2927, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 38,298 girls born in 2025 was named Neela.
Babies named Neela per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 53-year story
Neela first appears in the Social Security records in 1972, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 103 girls were named Neela — good for #1988 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Neela against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Neela in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Neela is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Neela will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Neela is most common
State-level data for Neela is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Neela
Statistically, parents drawn to Neela tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Anela, Aniela, Izabela, Neila, and Nitya.
AnelaAnielaIzabelaNeilaNityaNaimaMillaDelila
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Neela | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47 | #3296 |
| 2024 | 54 | #3013 |
| 2023 | 44 | #3525 |
| 2022 | 44 | #3536 |
| 2021 | 36 | #4014 |
| 2020 | 44 | #3450 |
| 2019 | 52 | #3085 |
| 2018 | 54 | #3004 |
| 2017 | 48 | #3305 |
| 2016 | 27 | #4990 |
| 2015 | 59 | #2927 |
| 2014 | 54 | #3080 |
| 2013 | 53 | #3076 |
| 2012 | 47 | #3419 |
| 2011 | 62 | #2796 |
| 2010 | 68 | #2642 |
| 2009 | 85 | #2286 |
| 2008 | 93 | #2157 |
| 2007 | 103 | #1988 |
| 2006 | 69 | #2602 |
| 2005 | 46 | #3317 |
| 2004 | 40 | #3631 |
| 2003 | 12 | #8505 |
| 2002 | 7 | #12187 |
| 2001 | 10 | #9351 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Neela?
In official American birth records, the name Neela first appeared in 1972 (over 53 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 53 years.
Is Neela a popular girl name?
Neela ranked #3313 among girls in 2025 with 47 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2927.
When was the name Neela most popular?
Neela peaked in 2007, when 103 American girls received the name (ranked #1988 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Neela?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 38,298 newborn American girls was named Neela. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.