UK girl's name
Nilsa
A feminine name of uncertain origin and meaning, possibly related to "lily".
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.
Nilsa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nilsa 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 2023, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2023 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Nilsa. 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
- • Nilsa ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 4 girls were registered as Nilsa.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nilsa 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
2023
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Nilsa mean?
The name Nilsa is believed to have its origins in the Scandinavian languages, specifically in Old Norse and Swedish. It is derived from the Old Norse word "nið," which means "darkness" or "night." The name is thought to have emerged during the Viking era, around the 8th to 11th centuries AD, in the regions of modern-day Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nilsa can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of historical narratives dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. In these sagas, Nilsa is mentioned as the name of a character, often a female warrior or a prominent figure in Norse society.
During the Middle Ages, the name Nilsa gained popularity among the Norse communities in Scandinavia. It was often associated with strength, courage, and resilience, traits highly valued in the Viking culture. Several historical records from this period mention individuals with the name Nilsa, although specific details about their lives and achievements are scarce.
One notable figure bearing the name Nilsa was a Viking shieldmaiden who lived during the 10th century. She was known for her fierce fighting skills and her unwavering loyalty to her clan. Unfortunately, little else is known about her life or exploits, but her legacy as a formidable warrior has been preserved in Norse folklore and oral traditions.
Another historical figure named Nilsa was a Norwegian noblewoman who lived in the 12th century. She was known for her influential role in the political affairs of her time and her involvement in negotiating alliances between rival clans. Her diplomatic skills and wisdom were widely respected, and she played a crucial role in maintaining peace in the region.
In the 15th century, a Swedish woman named Nilsa gained recognition for her contributions to the arts and literature. She was a skilled poet and storyteller, and her works were highly praised by her contemporaries. Unfortunately, few of her writings have survived to this day, but her name has been immortalized in the annals of Swedish literary history.
Throughout the centuries, the name Nilsa has remained a part of Scandinavian culture, although its popularity has waxed and waned over time. While not as common as some other Nordic names, it has continued to be used, often carrying the connotations of strength, resilience, and a connection to the rich heritage of the Viking era.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nilsa over time
The chart below shows babies named Nilsa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2023 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 Nilsa, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nilsa by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nilsa 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 | #5300 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Nilsa
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Nilsa: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nilsa in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nilsa was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Nilsa most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 4 babies registered as Nilsa in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nilsa?
A feminine name of uncertain origin and meaning, possibly related to "lily".
How many people are called Nilsa in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Nilsa 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.