Given name & surname
Nila
“from the Nile river”
Nila is a variant of Nile. One Egyptian interpretation is “from the Nile river.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Nila is a variant of Nile. One Egyptian interpretation is “from the Nile river.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Nila is a variant of Nile. An origin associated with Nile is Egyptian.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Nila is a feminine form of Нил.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1890. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nila through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,136
- 0 boys · 7,136 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 144 babies
- 2025
- 116
- #1,754 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +1%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 116 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,754 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 1.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (20). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,504 as a first name in 2020; 745 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nila’s family of names
In English usage, Nila is a feminine form of Нил. Nila has a related form in Nile. In Burmese usage, Nila is a Roman-alphabet rendering of နီလာ.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Nila has relatives in 3 languages.
3 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
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.
People named Nila
- Nila Moeloekophthalmologist and 18th Health Minister of Indonesiaborn 1949
- NiladeviHindu goddess of joy and consort of Vishnu
- Nila HåkedalNorwegian beach volleyball playerborn 1979
- Nila Ibrahimiactivist for the rights of Afghan women and adolescentsborn 2007
- Nila KriukovaUkrainian actor (1943-2018)
- Nila HerediaBolivian politicianborn 1943
- Nila Madhab PandaIndian film directorborn 1973
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Nila, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nyla
“from the Nile river”
>99% girls
Marilla
“of the shining sea”
>99% girls
Nova
“new; a bright star” · “a butterfly chaser”
5% boys · 95% girls
Antonella
Antonella is a variant of Antonia. In Latin use, Antonia carries the interpretation “priceless and highly praiseworthy; a flourishing flower.”
>99% girls
Vesper
“evening star; born in the evening”
5% boys · 95% girls
Winter
“born during the winter season”
6% boys · 94% girls
Stella
“star of the sea”
>99% girls
Kaia
Kaia is a variant of Kai. A connection with the sea occurs in Hawaiian interpretations. Kai should not be applied automatically to the European name.
>99% girls