Girls' name · since 1978
Nikela
Since 1978, U.S. Social Security records show 27 babies named Nikela, peaking in 1978. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #42,381 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 27
- born since 1978
- 1980s
- peak decade
27 girls have been named Nikela since 1978, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Nikela recorded 27 times among girls since 1978, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1978 to 1992.
- #42,381 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 27 born since 1978
- 1980s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nikela ranks #42,381 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 27 born since 1978, peaking in the 1980s.
- #42,381 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 27
- born since 1978
- 1980s
- peak decade
Nikela's 27 recorded births place it above 41.22% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
No state rows cleared SSA’s public reporting threshold for this name.
Nikela's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Nikela's SSA record in two at 1985 and the more recent half accounts for 59% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 41%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1982, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1978 peak of 6, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Nikela popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1978–1992
- Peak year (1978)
- 6
- Annual births at peak, across 15 years of records
Nikela by decade
1980s is the heaviest window (15 births, 56% of the file).
1980s was Nikela's strongest decade.
15 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 56% of all-time use.
Nikela births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
6 births
- 1980s
1980s
15 births
- 1990s
1990s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 15 births (56% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nikela? ▼
Where does Nikela sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Nikela most popular? ▼
How long has the name Nikela been used? ▼
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What to do with Nikela's data
- Nikela's usage has stayed within range of its 1980s decade-level peak (15 total births) through the 1990s (6) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Nikela
Nearby Names Like Nikela
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nikela
Compare Nikela side by side: Nikela vs Nikki Nikela vs Nikita Nikela vs Niki
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Nikela: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1978)
Similar record span (~14 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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, 1978–1992 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
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 Nikela 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 August 2026.