Given name

Nilla

Nilla is a feminine given name. It is used in Swedish.

Meaning & origin

Where it comes from

In Swedish use, Nilla is a diminutive of Pernilla. An origin associated with Pernilla is Latin.

Explained through its name family

The story

Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1924. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.

From dated birth records

Nilla through the years

Babies since 1880
26
0 boys · 26 girls
Most popular year
1970
6 babies
2025
0
Outside the ranked list
2021–25 vs 2016–20
—
Too few births to compare
024619401960198020002025Highest share 19280.0
Nilla in U.S. Social Security birth records, 1924–2025, per million girls born. Years with fewer than five births for a sex are not published and appear as zero. Use the arrow keys to step through years.

By the numbers

The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2019. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 6 in 1970. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 156 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.

Nilla’s family of names

In Swedish usage, Nilla is a diminutive of Gunilla. In Swedish usage, Nilla is a diminutive of Pernilla.

Walk Nilla’s family in the name graph

NillaGunillaPernillaNella

Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.

Hover or tab through the constellation to see how each name is related. Bigger dots are names more people in the U.S. share.

Nicknames & forms 2

Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.

Across languages 1

Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.

People named Nilla

Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.

Similar names

If you love Nilla, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.

Literary

Nicol

“of the victorious people”

20RareRising

>99% girls

 

Nikki

“of the victorious people”

30RareCooling

1% boys · 99% girls

 

Nicolle

“of the victorious people”

35RareRising

>99% girls

Gaelic

Neely

“the champion” · “a champion”

28RareSteady

>99% girls

English

Tisha

“one who brings joy to others”

22RareEasing

>99% girls

English

Twyla

“woven with double thread”

33RareRising fast

>99% girls

Greek

Ursula

“resembling a little bear”

26RareSteady

>99% girls

Mythological

Deena

Deena is a feminine given name.

25RareEasing

>99% girls

Sibling ideas

Names that share Nilla’s feel without repeating its first letter or rhyming with it.

A brother for Nilla

A sister for Nilla