UK girl's name
Naela
A feminine Arabic name meaning "to reach," "to obtain," or "to attain.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Naela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Naela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2017 to 2017. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Naela is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Naela. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Naela ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 3 girls were registered as Naela.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Naela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5765
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Naela mean?
The name Naela has its origins in the Arabic language and culture, with roots dating back to the 7th century CE. It is derived from the Arabic word "na'ila," which means "to attain" or "to achieve." This suggests that the name was initially associated with notions of success, accomplishment, and aspiration.
In the early days of Islam, the name Naela was relatively uncommon, but it gained popularity during the medieval period, particularly in regions influenced by Arabic and Islamic culture. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in historical accounts of the Abbasid Caliphate, where it was mentioned as the name of a prominent scholar and poet from the 9th century CE.
Throughout the centuries, the name Naela has been associated with several notable figures. One of the most renowned was Naela bint Al-Faraj, a celebrated 12th-century poet and literary figure from Andalusia, in present-day Spain. Her works were widely admired and praised for their elegance and depth of emotion.
Another notable figure was Naela al-Mawsiliya, a 13th-century musician and singer from Mosul, in modern-day Iraq. She was renowned for her exceptional talent and contribution to the development of Arabic music and poetic forms.
In the 15th century, Naela al-Baghdadiya was a respected scholar and calligrapher from Baghdad. Her intricate and beautiful calligraphic works adorned many important manuscripts and documents of the time.
During the 18th century, Naela bint Abi Bakr was a prominent Arabian poet and literary figure, known for her powerful and evocative verses that explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition.
In more recent times, Naela Khalil, born in 1941, was a renowned Egyptian actress and singer who made significant contributions to the Arab entertainment industry, captivating audiences with her talent and charisma.
While the name Naela has maintained its presence throughout history, particularly in the Arabic-speaking world, it has also gained recognition and popularity in other cultures and regions, often carrying similar connotations of achievement and success.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Naela by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Naela was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5765 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Naela
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Naela: questions and answers
How popular is the name Naela in the UK right now?
In 2017, Naela was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Naela most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 3 babies registered as Naela in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Naela?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "to reach," "to obtain," or "to attain.".
How many people are called Naela in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Naela across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.