Nikhil
Boy name · #2853 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Nikhil? In official American birth records, Nikhil has been tracked continuously since 1971, giving it 54 years of documented American history.
Nikhil ranks #2853 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 44 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1388, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 40,909 boys born in 2025 was named Nikhil.
The 54-year story
Nikhil first appears in the Social Security records in 1971, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 261 boys were named Nikhil — good for #820 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.
Babies named Nikhil per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nikhil against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nikhil in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nikhil is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nikhil will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nikhil is most common
State-level data for Nikhil 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 Nikhil
Statistically, parents drawn to Nikhil tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Sahil, Kamil, Nabil, Jibril, and Jalil.
SahilKamilNabilJibrilJalilMarkellPavelNathen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nikhil | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | #2833 |
| 2024 | 53 | #2527 |
| 2023 | 44 | #2848 |
| 2022 | 54 | #2517 |
| 2021 | 68 | #2109 |
| 2020 | 70 | #2024 |
| 2019 | 65 | #2170 |
| 2018 | 79 | #1886 |
| 2017 | 90 | #1725 |
| 2016 | 93 | #1687 |
| 2015 | 124 | #1388 |
| 2014 | 173 | #1102 |
| 2013 | 156 | #1155 |
| 2012 | 158 | #1155 |
| 2011 | 190 | #1012 |
| 2010 | 192 | #1015 |
| 2009 | 244 | #864 |
| 2008 | 241 | #877 |
| 2007 | 261 | #820 |
| 2006 | 223 | #885 |
| 2005 | 209 | #875 |
| 2004 | 204 | #862 |
| 2003 | 201 | #857 |
| 2002 | 182 | #891 |
| 2001 | 193 | #840 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nikhil?
In official American birth records, the name Nikhil first appeared in 1971 (over 54 years ago), when 9 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 54 years.
Is Nikhil a popular boy name?
Nikhil ranked #2853 among boys in 2025 with 44 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1388.
When was the name Nikhil most popular?
Nikhil peaked in 2007, when 261 American boys received the name (ranked #820 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nikhil?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 40,909 newborn American boys was named Nikhil. 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.