UK boy's name
Nishal
A unisex name of Sanskrit origin meaning "night", "starry night", or "bright".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nishal is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nishal popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4647, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 5 births.
This profile covers 8 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 2011. 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 8 living people in the UK are called Nishal. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nishal ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 5 boys were registered as Nishal.
- • About 8 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nishal as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4647
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
5 births
Estimated living
8
2026
Meaning
What does Nishal mean?
The name Nishal has its origins in the Sanskrit language, tracing back to ancient India. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "nish," meaning night or darkness, combined with the suffix "al," which denotes a quality or state. Thus, Nishal can be interpreted as "relating to the night" or "the one who possesses the qualities of the night."
In Hindu mythology, the night is often personified as a deity, and the name Nishal may have been used to honor this divine presence. Some scholars suggest that the name could also be associated with the moon, which shines brightly at night, or with the darker aspects of spiritual enlightenment.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Nishal can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit texts and inscriptions from the 5th century BCE. One notable mention is found in the Mahabharata, a renowned Hindu epic poem, where a character with this name is described as a wise and learned sage.
Throughout history, several prominent figures have borne the name Nishal. One of the earliest was Nishal Shastri, a revered Indian scholar and philosopher who lived in the 8th century CE. He is renowned for his contributions to the study of Hindu scriptures and his influential commentaries on the Vedas.
In the 12th century, Nishal Khan was a celebrated military commander and strategist who served under the Delhi Sultanate. His tactical prowess and leadership skills were instrumental in several victories against invading forces, earning him a place in the annals of Indian history.
During the 16th century, Nishal Das was a renowned poet and mystic from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. His devotional verses, known as bhajans, were widely popular and continue to be sung in spiritual gatherings to this day.
In more recent times, Nishal Nath Bose (1901-1981) was an Indian physicist and mathematician who made significant contributions to the fields of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics. He is particularly known for his work on the Bose-Einstein condensate, a state of matter predicted by himself and Albert Einstein.
Another notable figure was Nishal Singh Rana (1924-2008), an Indian politician and social activist who dedicated his life to the upliftment of marginalized communities. He served as a member of the Indian Parliament and played a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of indigenous tribes and other underprivileged groups.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nishal over time
The chart below shows babies named Nishal registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nishal, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nishal by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nishal 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4647 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2022 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Nishal
- 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
Nishal: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nishal in the UK right now?
In 2011, Nishal was ranked #4647 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Nishal most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 5 babies registered as Nishal in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nishal?
A unisex name of Sanskrit origin meaning "night", "starry night", or "bright".
How many people are called Nishal in the UK?
A total of 8 babies have been registered as Nishal 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.