Niles
Boy name · #2484 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Niles? In official American birth records, Niles has been tracked continuously since 1897, giving it 128 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 54 baby boys were named Niles, placing it at #2484 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2528, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 33,333 boys born in 2025 was named Niles.
The 128-year story
Niles first appears in the Social Security records in 1897, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 80 boys were named Niles — good for #1418 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 Niles per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Niles against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Niles in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Niles is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Niles will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Niles is most common
State-level data for Niles 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 Niles
Statistically, parents drawn to Niles tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reyes, Tyrus, Ulysses, Angus, and Nino.
ReyesTyrusUlyssesAngusNinoLarsNaeemNigel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Niles | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 54 | #2480 |
| 2024 | 39 | #3104 |
| 2023 | 53 | #2510 |
| 2022 | 59 | #2379 |
| 2021 | 64 | #2193 |
| 2020 | 70 | #2024 |
| 2019 | 64 | #2188 |
| 2018 | 49 | #2579 |
| 2017 | 65 | #2109 |
| 2016 | 54 | #2387 |
| 2015 | 49 | #2528 |
| 2014 | 53 | #2402 |
| 2013 | 39 | #2895 |
| 2012 | 45 | #2678 |
| 2011 | 41 | #2852 |
| 2010 | 29 | #3633 |
| 2009 | 47 | #2623 |
| 2008 | 37 | #3103 |
| 2007 | 50 | #2504 |
| 2006 | 38 | #2932 |
| 2005 | 36 | #2902 |
| 2004 | 43 | #2531 |
| 2003 | 41 | #2507 |
| 2002 | 41 | #2428 |
| 2001 | 54 | #1982 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Niles?
In official American birth records, the name Niles first appeared in 1897 (over 128 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Niles a popular boy name?
Niles ranked #2484 among boys in 2025 with 54 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2528.
When was the name Niles most popular?
Niles peaked in 1998, when 80 American boys received the name (ranked #1418 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Niles?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 33,333 newborn American boys was named Niles. 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.