UK name, mostly boys
Nihal
An Arabic name meaning "achieving" or "attaining goals".
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.
Nihal is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Nihal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #721, with 49 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 49 births.
This profile covers 604 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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.
Nihal is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 611 living people in the UK are called Nihal. 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
- • Nihal ranked #721 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 49 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 49 boys were registered as Nihal.
- • Nihal ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #602 in 2017.
- • About 611 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nihal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 84.6% of Nihal registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#721
2024
Births in 2024
49
Latest year
Peak year
2024
49 births
Estimated living
611
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Nihal
In England and Wales birth records, Nihal has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 84.6% of registrations are for boys and 15.4% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Nihal registered for boys
- Ranked #721 in 2024
- 49 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (49 births)
Nihal registered for girls
- Ranked #4,192 in 2024
- 5 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2011 (19 births)
Meaning
What does Nihal mean?
The name Nihal is believed to have its origins in the Arabic and Persian languages. It is derived from the Persian word "nihan," which means "hidden" or "concealed." The name can also be traced back to the Arabic word "nahal," meaning "honey."
In Arabic culture, the name Nihal is often associated with beauty, sweetness, and inner grace. It is a name that has been widely used across the Middle East and parts of South Asia for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Nihal can be found in ancient Persian literature, particularly in the works of renowned poets like Ferdowsi and Rumi. These literary works often used the name metaphorically to describe the beauty and sweetness of nature, or to symbolize the hidden depths of the soul.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Nihal. One such person was Nihal Atsız (1905-1975), a Turkish author, poet, and political activist known for his nationalist ideologies and his contributions to the Pan-Turkic movement.
Another prominent figure was Nihal Chand Ghosh (1893-1968), an Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule.
In the world of literature, Nihal Atsız (1840-1905) was a renowned Turkish novelist and playwright who is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Turkish literature. His works often explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the working class.
In the field of music, Nihal Nilendra (1916-1989) was a celebrated Indian classical vocalist and composer who made significant contributions to the Hindustani classical music tradition. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors.
Lastly, Nihal de Silva (1920-2012) was a renowned Sri Lankan architect and urban planner who played a significant role in shaping the modern architectural landscape of Sri Lanka. He is best known for his innovative designs that blended traditional Sri Lankan architectural elements with contemporary styles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nihal over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Nihal in England and Wales, 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 Nihal, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 49 births in 2024, compared with 49 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nihal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nihal 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 | #1181 | 131 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1014 | 293 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1318 | 168 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2460 | 12 | 3 |
Geography
Where Nihal is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Nihal. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Nihal ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #602 in 2017.
Across the UK
Nihal in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#602 in 2017
3 years of NRS records, 11 total registered
Related
Names similar to Nihal
- Noah 72,596
- Nathan 46,860
- Nicholas 15,983
- Nathaniel 12,151
- Niall 5,746
- Nicolas 3,825
- Nico 3,532
- Nate 2,029
- Nikodem 1,872
- Noel 1,865
- Ned 1,614
- Neo 1,563
FAQ
Nihal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nihal in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nihal was ranked #721 for boys in England and Wales, with 49 births registered.
When was Nihal most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 49 babies registered as Nihal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nihal?
An Arabic name meaning "achieving" or "attaining goals".
How many people are called Nihal in the UK?
A total of 604 babies have been registered as Nihal across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 11 more in Scotland.
Where is Nihal most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Nihal ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #602 in 2017. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.