Total births
825
Unisex name · since 1993
Nihal
Since 1993, U.S. Social Security records show 825 babies named Nihal, peaking in 2025. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #3027
- among boys today
- 825
- born since 1993
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 79%
- more common than other boys
825 babies have been named Nihal since 1993, making it today's #3027 unisex name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nihal has been recorded 825 times among boys since 1993, currently ranked #3027 nationally and more common than 79% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1993 to 2025.
- #3027 among boys today
- 825 born since 1993
- 2010s peak decade
- 79% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nihal is currently the #3027 unisex name in America, more common than 79% of boys - 825 born since 1993, peaking in the 2010s.
- #3027
- among boys today
- 825
- born since 1993
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 79%
- more common than other boys
Nihal vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3027
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 79% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
42% of everyone ever named Nihal was born in this single decade.
2025
Single peak year
42 babies were named Nihal in 2025 - its busiest year on record.
How Nihal compares
825 Top 34% higher than 66% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Nihal's all-time total is 125% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nihal | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 825 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 42 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nihal's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Nihal splits its recorded history at 2010: 66% of all births land in the more recent half, 34% in the earlier half, a lean toward present-day use rather than a passing spike. The single quietest year was 1996 (6 births) -- compare that against the 2025 peak of 42 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Nihal at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2025
Current rank
#3,027
Active since
1993
Nihal popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1993–2025
- Peak year (2025)
- 42
- Annual births at peak, across 33 years of records
Nihal popularity over time - girls
238 total births recorded since 1998 (Nihal as girls' name)
Nihal by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Nihal's strongest decade.
343 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 42% of all-time use.
Nihal births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1990s 46
1990s
46 births
- 2000s
2000s
235 births
- 2010s
2010s
343 births
- 2020s
2020s
201 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 343 births (42% of all-time use).
How Nihal compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Nihal's total volume
Nihal vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nihal by state
Where Nihal concentrates geographically, total births since 1993
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 194 | 23.5% |
| #2 | Texas | | 12 | 1.5% |
| #3 | New York | | 10 | 1.2% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 5 | 0.6% |
| #5 | New Jersey | | 5 | 0.6% |
California share of Nihal's total US births 23.5%
Even split
194 of 825 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nihal? ▼
Since 1993, Social Security records show 825 babies named Nihal. Today it holds rank #3027 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2025, with 42 births.
When was Nihal most popular? ▼
Nihal was most popular in the 2010s decade with 343 total births. The single peak year was 2025.
Where is Nihal most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nihal are California (194 births), Texas (12 births), New York (10 births).
Is Nihal a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Nihal is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 825 births, and as a girl's name it has 238 births.
How long has the name Nihal been used? ▼
Records for Nihal go back to 1993, giving 33 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Nihal? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nihar, Nihaal, Nihaan, Nihit, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Nihal's data
- Nihal's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (343 total births) through the 2020s (201) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Nihals (194 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Nihal
Nearby Names Like Nihal
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nihal
Nihar Boy
303 births
Nihaal Boy
#4520 227 births
Nihaan Boy
#8220 103 births
Nihit Boy
#9736 100 births
Nihan Boy
#8865 67 births
Compare Nihal side by side: Nihal vs Nihar Nihal vs Nihaal Nihal vs Nihaan
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nihal
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1993–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nihal: #3027 Unisex Name - 825 Births, Peak 2025." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nihal. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Nihal draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.