Nihal
Boy name · #2973 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Nihal? In official American birth records, Nihal has been tracked continuously since 1993, giving it 32 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 42 baby boys were named Nihal, placing it at #2973 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2864, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 42,857 boys born in 2025 was named Nihal.
Babies named Nihal per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 32-year story
Nihal first appears in the Social Security records in 1993, when 7 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 42 babies and a rank of #2941. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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 Nihal against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nihal in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nihal is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nihal will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nihal is most common
State-level data for Nihal 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 Nihal
Statistically, parents drawn to Nihal tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nihaal, Nylan, Nakai, Steel, and Abriel.
NihaalNylanNakaiSteelAbrielNiallHazaelAmiel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nihal | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42 | #2941 |
| 2024 | 41 | #3001 |
| 2023 | 32 | #3566 |
| 2022 | 25 | #4184 |
| 2021 | 39 | #3074 |
| 2020 | 22 | #4426 |
| 2019 | 34 | #3347 |
| 2018 | 30 | #3607 |
| 2017 | 37 | #3123 |
| 2016 | 38 | #3059 |
| 2015 | 41 | #2864 |
| 2014 | 41 | #2847 |
| 2013 | 35 | #3122 |
| 2012 | 30 | #3530 |
| 2011 | 30 | #3510 |
| 2010 | 27 | #3812 |
| 2009 | 28 | #3721 |
| 2008 | 25 | #4044 |
| 2007 | 25 | #4011 |
| 2006 | 18 | #4865 |
| 2005 | 34 | #3022 |
| 2004 | 31 | #3158 |
| 2003 | 18 | #4426 |
| 2002 | 13 | #5395 |
| 2001 | 24 | #3512 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nihal?
In official American birth records, the name Nihal first appeared in 1993 (over 32 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 32 years.
Is Nihal a popular boy name?
Nihal ranked #2973 among boys in 2025 with 42 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2864.
When was the name Nihal most popular?
Nihal peaked in 2025, when 42 American boys received the name (ranked #2941 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Nihal?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 42,857 newborn American boys was named Nihal. 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.