NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nailah

An Arabic feminine name meaning "successful" or "attaining success".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nailah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nailah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #980, with 36 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 39 births.

This profile covers 591 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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.

The latest count is about 92% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 588 living people in the UK are called Nailah. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nailah ranked #980 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 36 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2018, when 39 girls were registered as Nailah.
  • About 588 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nailah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#980

2024

Births in 2024

36

Latest year

Peak year

2018

39 births

Estimated living

588

2026

Meaning

What does Nailah mean?

The name Nailah is of Arabic origin, derived from the word "naal," which means "to attain" or "to achieve." It is a feminine name that is believed to have been in use since the early days of Islam.

In the Arabic language, the name Nailah is often associated with beauty, grace, and accomplishment. It is considered a name that carries a sense of aspiration and ambition, inspiring the bearer to reach for their goals and dreams.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nailah can be found in the writings of Arabic scholars and poets from the 7th and 8th centuries. The name was particularly popular among the elite classes of the time, with many notable women bearing this name.

Throughout history, several influential women have carried the name Nailah. One of the most prominent was Nailah bint al-Faraj (1027-1109), a renowned poet and scholar from Andalusia, Spain. Her poetry and literary works were highly acclaimed during her lifetime and continue to be studied and admired today.

Another notable Nailah was Nailah al-Ahdal (1262-1342), a Yemeni princess and patron of the arts. She was known for her support of poets, philosophers, and artists, and her court was a center of cultural and intellectual exchange during the medieval period.

In the modern era, Nailah Nasr (born 1950) is a prominent Lebanese-American philosopher and author. She is best known for her contributions to the study of Islamic philosophy and her efforts to promote cross-cultural understanding.

Nailah Lymus (1941-2009) was an American civil rights activist and educator who dedicated her life to promoting education and empowerment for underprivileged communities. She founded several organizations and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of marginalized groups.

Nailah Blackman (born 1996) is a contemporary Trinidadian-American singer and songwriter. She has gained recognition for her unique blend of Caribbean and R&B music, and her powerful vocals have earned her a dedicated following.

These are just a few examples of the many remarkable women who have borne the name Nailah throughout history. The name continues to be popular today, particularly in the Middle East and among Arabic-speaking communities around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nailah over time

The chart below shows babies named Nailah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Nailah, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 36 births in 2024, compared with 39 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nailah
010202939199620102024

Decades

Nailah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nailah 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
2020s #1100 156 5
2010s #1377 255 10
2000s #1791 133 10
1990s #1498 47 4

Related

Names similar to Nailah

FAQ

Nailah: questions and answers

How popular is the name Nailah in the UK right now?

In 2024, Nailah was ranked #980 for girls in England and Wales, with 36 births registered.

When was Nailah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2018, with 39 babies registered as Nailah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nailah?

An Arabic feminine name meaning "successful" or "attaining success".

How many people are called Nailah in the UK?

A total of 591 babies have been registered as Nailah across the 29 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.