UK name, mostly boys
Nirel
An invented name possibly meaning "the light of God" or "God's light".
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.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 3 girls.
Nirel is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Nirel popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, 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 Nirel. 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
- • Nirel ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 4 boys were registered as Nirel.
- • Nirel is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nirel as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 70.0% of Nirel registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2023
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Nirel
In England and Wales birth records, Nirel has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 70.0% of registrations are for boys and 30.0% 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.
Nirel registered for boys
- Ranked #5,119 in 2024
- 3 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (4 births)
Nirel registered for girls
- Ranked #4,598 in 2004
- 3 girls registered in 2004
- Peak: 2004 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Nirel mean?
The name Nirel is believed to have its origins in ancient Hebrew culture, although its exact etymology is uncertain. Some scholars suggest it may be derived from the Hebrew word "nir," meaning "lamp" or "light," potentially indicating a connection to divine or spiritual illumination.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Nirel was a scribe and scholar who lived in the 6th century BCE in ancient Judah. This Nirel is mentioned in several historical texts as a respected scholar of religious scriptures and a skilled calligrapher.
In the 3rd century BCE, a Jewish historian named Nirel ben Eleazar is recorded as having chronicled the events of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. His writings, while now lost, were referenced by later historians and provided valuable insights into this pivotal period in Jewish history.
During the Middle Ages, a prominent Rabbi named Nirel ben Yitzchak (1120-1190) gained recognition for his extensive commentaries on the Talmud and his contributions to the study of Jewish law. His works were widely circulated and influential in Jewish communities across Europe.
In the 16th century, a Italian artist and sculptor named Nirel da Viterbo (1492-1567) gained acclaim for his intricate works in marble and his mastery of the Renaissance style. Some of his most notable sculptures can still be found in churches and public spaces throughout Italy.
In the 19th century, a French philosopher and writer named Nirel Descartes (1820-1892) gained recognition for his works exploring existentialism and the human condition. His books and essays, while not widely read during his lifetime, have since been recognized as influential in the development of modern philosophical thought.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Nirel, showcasing its rich and diverse cultural heritage and the potential for various interpretations of its meaning and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nirel over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Nirel in England and Wales, from 2004 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 Nirel, 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
Nirel by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nirel 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 | #4613 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Nirel
- 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
Nirel: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nirel in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nirel was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Nirel most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 4 babies registered as Nirel in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nirel?
An invented name possibly meaning "the light of God" or "God's light".
How many people are called Nirel in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Nirel 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.