Nile
Boy name · #1840 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Nile? In official American birth records, Nile has been tracked continuously since 1895, giving it 130 years of documented American history.
Nile ranks #1840 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 86 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2328, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 20,930 boys born in 2025 was named Nile.
Babies named Nile per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 130-year story
Nile first appears in the Social Security records in 1895, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 129 boys were named Nile — good for #1419 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 Nile against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nile in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nile is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nile will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nile is most common
State-level data for Nile 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 Nile
Statistically, parents drawn to Nile tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nyle, Naim, Lake, Arie, and Ryle.
NyleNaimLakeArieRyleAxleNiallRayne
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nile | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 86 | #1837 |
| 2024 | 81 | #1938 |
| 2023 | 92 | #1765 |
| 2022 | 110 | #1597 |
| 2021 | 129 | #1419 |
| 2020 | 86 | #1766 |
| 2019 | 75 | #1954 |
| 2018 | 75 | #1959 |
| 2017 | 58 | #2270 |
| 2016 | 81 | #1845 |
| 2015 | 56 | #2328 |
| 2014 | 72 | #1979 |
| 2013 | 49 | #2492 |
| 2012 | 66 | #2066 |
| 2011 | 51 | #2437 |
| 2010 | 65 | #2069 |
| 2009 | 43 | #2800 |
| 2008 | 48 | #2583 |
| 2007 | 53 | #2416 |
| 2006 | 48 | #2513 |
| 2005 | 45 | #2493 |
| 2004 | 28 | #3368 |
| 2003 | 47 | #2269 |
| 2002 | 44 | #2337 |
| 2001 | 54 | #1982 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nile?
In official American birth records, the name Nile first appeared in 1895 (over 130 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Nile a popular boy name?
Nile ranked #1840 among boys in 2025 with 86 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2328.
When was the name Nile most popular?
Nile peaked in 2021, when 129 American boys received the name (ranked #1419 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nile?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 20,930 newborn American boys was named Nile. 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.