UK boy's name
Nishil
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "night dusk".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nishil is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Nishil popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3987, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 6 births.
This profile covers 40 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 1997 to 2012. 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 40 living people in the UK are called Nishil. 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 2013 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nishil ranked #3987 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 6 boys were registered as Nishil.
- • About 40 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nishil as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3987
2012
Births in 2012
4
Latest year
Peak year
1997
6 births
Estimated living
40
2026
Meaning
What does Nishil mean?
The name Nishil is of Sanskrit origin, traced back to ancient India. It is believed to have evolved from the Sanskrit word "Nishidha," which means "binding" or "restraint." The name gained prominence during the medieval period in various parts of the Indian subcontinent.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nishil can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, where it is mentioned as a name of a sage or a wise man. The Vedas, which date back to around 1500 BCE, are considered the oldest literary sources in the Indian tradition.
In the 7th century CE, the name Nishil gained further recognition when it was associated with a renowned Indian scholar and philosopher, Nishil Bhattacharya. He was a prominent figure in the field of logic and epistemology, and his works significantly influenced the development of Indian philosophical thought.
During the 12th century, the name Nishil appeared in the historical records of the Chalukya dynasty, which ruled parts of present-day Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in southern India. Nishil was the name of a well-known minister and advisor to the Chalukya king, Vikramaditya VI.
In the 16th century, a famous Indian poet and writer, Nishil Chandra, gained recognition for his contributions to Bengali literature. His poetic works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and human emotions, continue to be celebrated and studied to this day.
Another notable figure with the name Nishil was Nishil Das, a 17th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and played a crucial role in the development of the Indian astronomical calendar system.
Throughout history, the name Nishil has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, philosophers, poets, and scientists. While its origin can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit roots, the name has transcended cultural and geographical boundaries, gaining recognition across different regions of the Indian subcontinent and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nishil over time
The chart below shows babies named Nishil registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nishil, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2012, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nishil by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nishil 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 | #3644 | 9 | 2 |
| 2000s | #3082 | 15 | 4 |
| 1990s | #1977 | 16 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Nishil
- 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
Nishil: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nishil in the UK right now?
In 2012, Nishil was ranked #3987 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Nishil most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 6 babies registered as Nishil in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nishil?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "night dusk".
How many people are called Nishil in the UK?
A total of 40 babies have been registered as Nishil across the 9 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.