Given name
Neala
“a champion”
In Gaelic use, Neala carries the interpretation “a champion.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Gaelic use, Neala carries the interpretation “a champion.”
How it developed
Neala is used as a feminine counterpart of Neal.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1938. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Neala through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 595
- 0 boys · 595 girls
- Most popular year
- 2009
- 38 babies
- 2025
- 8
- #11,630 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −42%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 8 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 11,630 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 41.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 38 in 2009. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 586 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Neala’s family of names
Neala is a feminine form of Neal. Neala has a related form in Nelia. Neala has a related form in Niall.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 21
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Neala, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nuala
“one who is fair; a white-shouldered woman”
>99% girls
Eavan
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Niamh
“brightness, beauty” · “a bright man”
>99% girls
Ianna
>99% girls
Sorcha
“princess”
>99% girls
Malwina
Malwina is a feminine given name from English, ultimately from Scottish Gaelic. It is used in Polish.
>99% girls
Mackenna
“daughter of the handsome man”
>99% girls
Meara
“one who is filled with happiness” · “filled with joy”
>99% girls