UK name, mostly boys
Nile
A feminine name representing the Nile River, one of the world's longest rivers.
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.
Nile is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Nile popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1675, with 15 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 31 births.
This profile covers 486 England and Wales registrations across 29 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.
The latest count is about 48% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 490 living people in the UK are called Nile. 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
- • Nile ranked #1675 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 15 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 31 boys were registered as Nile.
- • Nile ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #686 in 2015.
- • About 490 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nile as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 95.3% of Nile registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1675
2024
Births in 2024
15
Latest year
Peak year
2000
31 births
Estimated living
490
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Nile
In England and Wales birth records, Nile has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 95.3% of registrations are for boys and 4.7% 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.
Nile registered for boys
- Ranked #1,675 in 2024
- 15 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2000 (31 births)
Nile registered for girls
- Ranked #4,192 in 2024
- 5 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2020 (6 births)
Meaning
What does Nile mean?
The name Nile has its origins in ancient Egyptian culture, deriving from the word "Neilos," which was the Greek name for the famous Nile River that flows through northeastern Africa. The Nile River was revered as a life-giving force in ancient Egyptian civilization, serving as a vital source of water and sustenance for the region's inhabitants.
One of the earliest references to the name Nile can be found in ancient Greek writings, where it was used to refer to the river itself. As the significance of the Nile River grew in the minds of ancient Egyptians and their neighboring civilizations, the name Nile likely gained popularity as a personal name, reflecting the reverence and importance placed on this iconic waterway.
In terms of historical figures bearing the name Nile, one notable individual was Nile Niami (born 1966), a prominent American property developer known for his work on luxury real estate projects in Los Angeles and other parts of California. Another historical figure was Nile Rodgers (born 1952), an American musician, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work with the band Chic and his collaborations with various artists.
Moving further back in time, there was Nile Kinnick (1918-1943), an American football player and Heisman Trophy winner who tragically lost his life during World War II while serving as a naval aviator. Nile Albright (1910-2001), an American diplomat and the first female United States Secretary of State, was another prominent individual who bore this name.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Nile can be found in the writings of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BCE. Herodotus frequently mentioned the Nile River in his accounts of ancient Egyptian civilization, cementing the name's association with this iconic waterway in the historical record.
While the name Nile has its roots in ancient Egyptian and Greek culture, it has since been adopted and used in various parts of the world, carrying with it the symbolism and significance of the mighty Nile River that played such a pivotal role in the development of early civilizations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nile over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Nile 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 Nile, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 15 births in 2024, compared with 31 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nile by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nile 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 | #2160 | 61 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1508 | 168 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1234 | 166 | 10 |
| 1990s | #715 | 91 | 4 |
Geography
Where Nile is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Nile. 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.
Nile ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #686 in 2015.
Across the UK
Nile in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#686 in 2015
2 years of NRS records, 8 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Nile
-
Nile Wilson
artistic gymnast
British artistic gymnast
1996-
-
Nile Marr
songwriter; guitarist; singer
British musician and songwriter
1992-
-
Nile Ranger
association football player
English footballer (born 1991)
1991-
Related
Names similar to Nile
- 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
Nile: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nile in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nile was ranked #1675 for boys in England and Wales, with 15 births registered.
When was Nile most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 31 babies registered as Nile in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nile?
A feminine name representing the Nile River, one of the world's longest rivers.
How many people are called Nile in the UK?
A total of 486 babies have been registered as Nile across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 8 more in Scotland.
Where is Nile most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Nile ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #686 in 2015. 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.