Total births
3,696
Unisex name · since 1895
Nile
Since 1895, U.S. Social Security records show 3,696 babies named Nile, peaking in 2021. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #1941
- among boys today
- 3,696
- born since 1895
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 86%
- more common than other boys
Nile currently ranks #1941 among unisex names in America, with 3,696 babies recorded since 1895.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nile has been recorded 3,696 times among boys since 1895, currently ranked #1941 nationally and more common than 86% 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 1895 to 2025.
- #1941 among boys today
- 3,696 born since 1895
- 2010s peak decade
- 86% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nile is currently the #1941 unisex name in America, more common than 86% of boys - 3,696 born since 1895, peaking in the 2010s.
- #1941
- among boys today
- 3,696
- born since 1895
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 86%
- more common than other boys
Nile vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#1941
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 86% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
18% of everyone ever named Nile was born in this single decade.
2021
Single peak year
129 babies were named Nile in 2021 - its busiest year on record.
How Nile compares
3,696 Top 15% higher than 85% 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
Nile's all-time total is 10x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nile | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 3,696 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 129 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nile's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Nile's full recorded timeline at 1966, 68% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 32% in the earlier half -- usage has skewed toward the present, not a one-decade spike. Its quietest year on record was 1895, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 2021 peak of 129 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Nile at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2021
Current rank
#1,941
Active since
1895
Nile popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1895–2025
- Peak year (2021)
- 129
- Annual births at peak, across 131 years of records
Nile popularity over time - girls
370 total births recorded since 1975 (Nile as girls' name)
Nile by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Nile's strongest decade.
648 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 18% of all-time use.
Nile births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 17
1890s
17 births
- 1900s 13
1900s
13 births
- 1910s 177
1910s
177 births
- 1920s 251
1920s
251 births
- 1930s 216
1930s
216 births
- 1940s 235
1940s
235 births
- 1950s 171
1950s
171 births
- 1960s 136
1960s
136 births
- 1970s 125
1970s
125 births
- 1980s 213
1980s
213 births
- 1990s
1990s
456 births
- 2000s
2000s
454 births
- 2010s
2010s
648 births
- 2020s
2020s
584 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 648 births (18% of all-time use).
How Nile 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 Nile's total volume
Nile vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nile by state
Where Nile concentrates geographically, total births since 1895
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 224 | 6.1% |
| #2 | Iowa | | 178 | 4.8% |
| #3 | New York | | 175 | 4.7% |
| #4 | Florida | | 56 | 1.5% |
| #5 | Georgia | | 55 | 1.5% |
| #6 | Texas | | 49 | 1.3% |
| #7 | Pennsylvania | | 35 | 0.9% |
| #8 | New Jersey | | 33 | 0.9% |
California share of Nile's total US births 6.1%
Even split
224 of 3,696 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 17 reporting states.
Nile appears in 17 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nile? ▼
3,696 babies have been named Nile since 1895. It currently ranks #1941 among boys. The peak year was 2021 with 129 births.
When was Nile most popular? ▼
Nile was most popular in the 2010s decade with 648 total births. The single peak year was 2021.
Where is Nile most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nile are California (224 births), Iowa (178 births), New York (175 births).
Is Nile a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Nile is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 3,696 births, and as a girl's name it has 370 births.
How long has the name Nile been used? ▼
Nile has been recorded in Social Security data since 1895, spanning 131 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Nile? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Niles, Nils, Nilan, Nilo, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Nile's data
- Nile's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (648 total births) through the 2020s (584) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Niles (224 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 Nile
Nearby Names Like Nile
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nile
Niles Boy
#3107 4,455 births
Nils Boy
#4895 3,083 births
Nilan Boy
#2993 461 births
Nilo Boy
#3622 404 births
Nilson Boy
#6302 356 births
Compare Nile side by side: Nile vs Niles Nile vs Nils Nile vs Nilan
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nile
Sheldon #1940
36,676 births · Peak 1992
Bennet #1942
2,095 births · Peak 2025
Obed #1939
4,135 births · Peak 2005
Vladimir #1943
6,190 births · Peak 2016
Addison #1938
13,427 births · Peak 2006
Viggo #1944
1,055 births · Peak 2025
Zohan #1937
602 births · Peak 2025
Ronaldo #1945
6,043 births · Peak 1998
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, 1895–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nile: #1941 Unisex Name - 3,696 Births, Peak 2021." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nile. 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 Nile 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.