NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Niylah

A feminine name of unclear origin, potentially meaning "victorious".

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.

Niylah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Niylah 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 2012, with 5 births.

This profile covers 37 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2012 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 37 living people in the UK are called Niylah. 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

  • Niylah ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2012, when 5 girls were registered as Niylah.
  • About 37 living people in the UK are estimated to have Niylah 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

2012

5 births

Estimated living

37

2026

Meaning

What does Niylah mean?

The name Niylah is believed to have its origins in Arabic, where it is derived from the word "nilah," meaning "indigo" or "deep blue." This name is thought to have emerged during the medieval period in the Middle East and North Africa, where the Arabic language and Islamic culture were prevalent.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Niylah can be found in the writings of the renowned 12th-century Persian poet and scholar, Nizami Ganjavi. In his epic poem, the Khamsah, he makes reference to a character named Niylah, suggesting that the name was in use during that time.

Another historical figure bearing the name Niylah was a 14th-century Sufi mystic from modern-day Iran. Known as Niylah al-Baghdadi, she was renowned for her spiritual teachings and was a prominent figure in the Sufi tradition of that era.

In the 16th century, a notable poet and calligrapher from the Ottoman Empire, Niylah Mehmed, gained recognition for his works. His intricate calligraphic pieces were highly regarded and are still celebrated in the realm of Islamic art.

During the 19th century, Niylah al-Zahawi, an Iraqi poet and scholar, made significant contributions to Arabic literature. Her works often explored themes of love, spirituality, and the human experience, earning her a place among the notable literary figures of her time.

In more recent history, Niylah Khayr, a Syrian artist and activist born in 1925, gained recognition for her vibrant paintings and advocacy for women's rights. Her artistic works often depicted scenes from daily life in the Middle East and aimed to challenge societal norms.

It is worth noting that while the name Niylah has its roots in Arabic and Islamic culture, it has since gained popularity and usage across various regions and communities around the world, transcending its traditional cultural boundaries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Niylah over time

The chart below shows babies named Niylah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2012 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 Niylah, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Niylah
01345201220182024

Decades

Niylah by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Niylah 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 #5078 18 5
2010s #5009 19 5

Related

Names similar to Niylah

FAQ

Niylah: questions and answers

How popular is the name Niylah in the UK right now?

In 2024, Niylah was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Niylah most popular?

The peak year on record was 2012, with 5 babies registered as Niylah in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Niylah?

A feminine name of unclear origin, potentially meaning "victorious".

How many people are called Niylah in the UK?

A total of 37 babies have been registered as Niylah across the 10 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.