Given name & surname
Niles
“the champion”
Niles is a variant of Neil. One interpretation is “the champion.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Niles is a variant of Neil. One interpretation is “the champion.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1897. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Niles through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,455
- 4,455 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1998
- 80 babies
- 2025
- 54
- #2,506 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −11%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 54 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 2,506 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 10.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 80 in 1998. In 2025, Washington had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,956 as a first name in 2020; 9,667 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.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
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 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Niles
- KshmrAmerican DJ, record producer and songwriterborn 1988
- Niles EldredgeAmerican biologistborn 1943
- Niles WelchAmerican actor (1888-1976)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Niles, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ulysses
“one who roams; an angry man”
>99% boys
Nikolas
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Moises
Moises is a masculine given name from Portuguese, ultimately from Spanish. It is used in English, Tagalog, Cebuano, and Latin.
>99% boys
Nicholas
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Nicolas
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Syed
“filled with happiness”
>99% boys
Trey
“the third-born child”
>99% boys
Nathanael
“God has given”
>99% boys