unisex name · in the US
Nihal
nee-HAHL
- Origin Turkish
- Gender Unisex (US)
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 3,288
Canada
#376
2024 births
Nihal is a unisex name in the United States, with 2 syllables. It is given to both girls and boys — about 39% of recorded births with this name are girls. In 2025 it was given to 54 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
- Nihal is a name of Turkish origin.
- Peaked in 2016, when 61 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 61,399 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1993.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Nihal Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1990s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 52 |
| 2000s | 263 |
| 2010s | 476 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 272 |
How Popular Is Nihal?
In 2025, Nihal was given to 54 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Nihal Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Nihal
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Nihal Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Nihal over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
Boys' or Girls' Name?
Nihal is used differently depending on where you are. Each figure is the share of babies given the name who were girls, over the last ten years of that country's records.
- United States Both 28% girls · 473 babies
- Canada Both 12% girls · 440 babies
- France Girls' 100% girls · 360 babies
- England & Wales Both 17% girls · 308 babies
How to Say Nihal
- Pronunciation nee-HAHL
Nihal in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Other forms
- Forms we hold no single language for — some are used across several, some are simply spelled differently.
- Nihel
Sibling Names for Nihal
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Nihal — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Nihal
How popular is the name Nihal?
In 2025, Nihal was given to 54 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Nihal a girl's or a boy's name?
Nihal is used for both girls and boys. About 39% of recorded births with this name are girls.
How many syllables are in Nihal?
Nihal has 2 syllables.
When was Nihal most popular?
Nihal peaked in 2016, when 61 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Nihal a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Nihal currently ranks #376 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.