Niamh
Girl name · #3537 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Niamh? In official American birth records, Niamh has been tracked continuously since 1969, giving it 56 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 43 baby girls were named Niamh, placing it at #3537 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #4144, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 41,860 girls born in 2025 was named Niamh.
Babies named Niamh per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 56-year story
Niamh first appears in the Social Security records in 1969, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2008, when 74 girls were named Niamh — good for #2538 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 Niamh against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Niamh in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Niamh is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Niamh will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Niamh is most common
State-level data for Niamh 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 Niamh
Statistically, parents drawn to Niamh tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Niyah, Kyrah, Alyah, Uriah, and Nitya.
NiyahKyrahAlyahUriahNityaNaomyKiyahMykah
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Niamh | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 43 | #3517 |
| 2024 | 51 | #3119 |
| 2023 | 33 | #4276 |
| 2022 | 37 | #3963 |
| 2021 | 35 | #4090 |
| 2020 | 33 | #4169 |
| 2019 | 44 | #3499 |
| 2018 | 40 | #3739 |
| 2017 | 37 | #3996 |
| 2016 | 45 | #3464 |
| 2015 | 35 | #4144 |
| 2014 | 53 | #3112 |
| 2013 | 44 | #3513 |
| 2012 | 46 | #3464 |
| 2011 | 60 | #2868 |
| 2010 | 43 | #3624 |
| 2009 | 56 | #3047 |
| 2008 | 74 | #2538 |
| 2007 | 58 | #3023 |
| 2006 | 69 | #2602 |
| 2005 | 57 | #2865 |
| 2004 | 69 | #2446 |
| 2003 | 67 | #2439 |
| 2002 | 57 | #2673 |
| 2001 | 69 | #2304 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Niamh?
In official American birth records, the name Niamh first appeared in 1969 (over 56 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 56 years.
Is Niamh a popular girl name?
Niamh ranked #3537 among girls in 2025 with 43 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4144.
When was the name Niamh most popular?
Niamh peaked in 2008, when 74 American girls received the name (ranked #2538 that year). Since 2008 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Niamh?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 41,860 newborn American girls was named Niamh. 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.