Total births
546
Boys' name · since 1972
Nirav
Nirav has 546 recorded births since 1972 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1984 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #11198
- among boys today
- 546
- born since 1972
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 22%
- more common than other boys
Nirav currently ranks #11198 among boys' names in America, with 546 babies recorded since 1972.
Nirav has 546 recorded births among boys since 1972, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, ranked #11198 as of the latest data, more common than 22% of boys, busiest in the 1980s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1972 to 2025.
- #11198 among boys today
- 546 born since 1972
- 1980s peak decade
- 22% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Nirav is currently the #11198 boys' name in America, more common than 22% of boys - 546 born since 1972, peaking in the 1980s.
- #11198
- among boys today
- 546
- born since 1972
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 22%
- more common than other boys
Nirav vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#11198
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 22% of names given to boys today.
1980s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Nirav was born in this single decade.
1984
Single peak year
21 babies were named Nirav in 1984 - its busiest year on record.
How Nirav compares
546 Top 42% higher than 58% 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
Nirav's all-time total is 49% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Nirav | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 546 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 21 | 23 | 22,252 |
Nirav's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Nirav splits its recorded history at 1998: 45% of all births land in the more recent half, 55% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1998 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1984 peak of 21 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Nirav at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1984
Current rank
#11,198
Active since
1972
Nirav popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1972–2025
- Peak year (1984)
- 21
- Annual births at peak, across 54 years of records
Nirav by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Nirav's strongest decade.
158 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Nirav births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
94 births
- 1980s
1980s
158 births
- 1990s 63
1990s
63 births
- 2000s 63
2000s
63 births
- 2010s
2010s
120 births
- 2020s 48
2020s
48 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 158 births (29% of all-time use).
How Nirav 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 Nirav's total volume
Nirav vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Nirav by state
Where Nirav concentrates geographically, total births since 1972
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Illinois | | 20 | 3.7% |
| #2 | New Jersey | | 10 | 1.8% |
| #3 | California | | 6 | 1.1% |
| #4 | New York | | 5 | 0.9% |
| #5 | Texas | | 5 | 0.9% |
Illinois share of Nirav's total US births 3.7%
Even split
20 of 546 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Nirav? ▼
Nirav has been given to 546 babies in the U.S. since 1972, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #11198 as of the latest data. 21 babies were born in 1984, its single highest year.
When was Nirav most popular? ▼
Nirav was most popular in the 1980s decade with 158 total births. The single peak year was 1984.
Where is Nirav most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Nirav are Illinois (20 births), New Jersey (10 births), California (6 births).
How long has the name Nirav been used? ▼
Records for Nirav go back to 1972, giving 54 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Nirav? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Nirvaan, Nirvan, Niraj, Nirvair, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Nirav's data
- Nirav's decade-level peak was the 1980s (158 total births); usage has since declined to 48 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Illinois records the most Niravs (20 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Illinois 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 Nirav
Nearby Names Like Nirav
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nirav
Nirvaan Boy
#2026 712 births
Nirvan Boy
#3326 482 births
Niraj Boy
331 births
Nirvair Boy
#2594 200 births
Niranjan Boy
110 births
Compare Nirav side by side: Nirav vs Nirvaan Nirav vs Nirvan Nirav vs Niraj
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Nirav
Johnthomas #11197
566 births · Peak 1997
Shahram #11199
90 births · Peak 2025
Dimitry #11196
569 births · Peak 2009
Alesandro #11200
379 births · Peak 2002
Ramar #11195
278 births · Peak 1989
Alexandar #11201
681 births · Peak 2000
Marcoantonio #11194
1,521 births · Peak 2001
Dason #11202
623 births · Peak 2006
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, 1972–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Nirav: #11198 Boys' Name - 546 Births, Peak 1984." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/nirav. 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 Nirav 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.