UK boy's name
Nilo
Variant of Nilo of Greco-Latin origin meaning either "dark" or "from the Nile" river.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nilo is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nilo popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3523, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 5 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2020 to 2023. 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.
Nilo is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Nilo. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nilo ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 5 boys were registered as Nilo.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nilo as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3523
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2023
5 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Nilo mean?
The name Nilo is of Latin origin, derived from the word "Nilus," which refers to the Nile River in Egypt. This connection suggests that the name may have originated among ancient Roman or Greek communities with ties to Egypt or the Mediterranean region.
The Nile River played a vital role in the development of ancient Egyptian civilization, and it is possible that the name Nilo was initially used to honor or pay tribute to this significant geographical feature. Alternatively, the name may have been given to individuals who lived near or were associated with the Nile River.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Nilo can be found in ancient Roman texts, where it was occasionally used as a masculine name. However, its usage appears to have been relatively uncommon during this period.
Throughout history, there have been a few notable individuals who bore the name Nilo. One such figure was Nilo of Ancyra, a 5th-century Christian monk and church historian from Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Another was Nilo the Younger, an 11th-century Byzantine monk and saint who established several monasteries in Italy.
During the Renaissance period, the name Nilo gained some popularity in Italy, particularly in artistic and literary circles. One notable figure from this era was Nilo d'Arezzo (1395-1473), an Italian painter and sculptor known for his contributions to the early Renaissance style.
In the 19th century, the name Nilo was occasionally used in Latin American countries, possibly influenced by the region's Spanish and Portuguese colonial heritage. For example, Nilo Jesús Fabra (1843-1905) was a Venezuelan lawyer and politician who served as the President of Venezuela from 1899 to 1900.
Another noteworthy individual with the name Nilo was Nilo Peçanha (1867-1924), a Brazilian politician and military officer who served as the President of Brazil from 1909 to 1910.
While the name Nilo has had a relatively limited usage throughout history, it has been carried by individuals from various cultural and geographical backgrounds, often with connections to the ancient Mediterranean world or Latin American regions. Its association with the Nile River and the rich history of ancient Egypt has contributed to its enduring appeal and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nilo over time
The chart below shows babies named Nilo registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2020 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nilo, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nilo by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nilo 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 | #4307 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Nilo
- 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
Nilo: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nilo in the UK right now?
In 2023, Nilo was ranked #3523 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Nilo most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 5 babies registered as Nilo in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nilo?
Variant of Nilo of Greco-Latin origin meaning either "dark" or "from the Nile" river.
How many people are called Nilo in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Nilo across the 3 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.