NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nilla

A feminine name of English origin meaning "little lemon-yellow girl".

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.

Nilla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nilla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2020 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Nilla. 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

  • Nilla ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2020, when 3 girls were registered as Nilla.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nilla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2020

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Nilla mean?

The name Nilla has its origins in the Sanskrit language, derived from the word "nila," which means "blue" or "dark." This name can be traced back to ancient India, where it was initially used as a descriptive term for the deep blue hues found in nature, such as the vibrant colors of the sky or the rich tones of gemstones.

In Hindu mythology, Nilla is associated with Lord Krishna, one of the most revered deities in the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Sanskrit scripture. The name is often mentioned in verses describing Krishna's divine form, adorned with the radiant blue color symbolizing his divine grace and transcendental nature.

The earliest recorded use of the name Nilla can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts and inscriptions dating back to the 5th century BCE. One notable figure from this era was Nilla, a renowned philosopher and scholar from the Mauryan Empire, known for his contributions to the study of Vedic literature and the Sanskrit language.

During the medieval period, the name Nilla gained popularity among the ruling elite and nobility in various regions of India. One prominent figure was Queen Nilla Devi, the wife of King Vikramaditya VI of the Chalukya dynasty, who ruled in the 12th century CE. She was renowned for her patronage of the arts and her support for the construction of temples and educational institutions.

In the realm of literature, the name Nilla is associated with the celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher, Nilla Theru, who lived in the 9th century CE. His works, including the influential "Nillatheru Arathanai," explored themes of spirituality, love, and the human condition, leaving a lasting impact on Tamil literature.

Another notable figure bearing the name Nilla was the 16th-century Mughal princess, Nilla Begum. She was the daughter of Emperor Akbar and played a significant role in the cultural and intellectual life of the Mughal court, known for her patronage of artists, poets, and scholars.

While the name Nilla is rooted in Indian history and culture, it has also found its way into other parts of the world, though with varying spellings and pronunciations. In modern times, the name has gained popularity across different cultures and regions, carrying with it the symbolic associations of beauty, grace, and the deep blue hues that have long been revered in ancient traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nilla over time

The chart below shows babies named Nilla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2020 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 Nilla, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nilla
01223202020222024

Decades

Nilla by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nilla 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 #5692 6 2

Related

Names similar to Nilla

FAQ

Nilla: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Nilla was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Nilla most popular?

The peak year on record was 2020, with 3 babies registered as Nilla in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nilla?

A feminine name of English origin meaning "little lemon-yellow girl".

How many people are called Nilla in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Nilla across the 2 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.