Niall
Boy name · #1703 in 2025 · Uniqueness 56/100
Niall ranks #1703 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 96 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2355, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,750 boys born in 2025 was named Niall.
Babies named Niall per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 70-year story
Niall first appears in the Social Security records in 1955, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2024, with 110 babies and a rank of #1573. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Niall against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Niall in class?
Niall scores 56 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Niall is most common
Geography matters for names, and Niall is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nialls were CA (12), PA (8), OH (6), MA (5), NY (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Niall
Statistically, parents drawn to Niall tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kyrell, Abiel, Mendel, Axell, and Nayel.
KyrellAbielMendelAxellNayelNihalNileHansel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Niall | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 96 | #1699 |
| 2024 | 110 | #1573 |
| 2023 | 90 | #1787 |
| 2022 | 77 | #1981 |
| 2021 | 84 | #1841 |
| 2020 | 66 | #2113 |
| 2019 | 68 | #2110 |
| 2018 | 96 | #1663 |
| 2017 | 76 | #1897 |
| 2016 | 53 | #2412 |
| 2015 | 55 | #2355 |
| 2014 | 64 | #2138 |
| 2013 | 69 | #1989 |
| 2012 | 43 | #2772 |
| 2011 | 34 | #3235 |
| 2010 | 18 | #5047 |
| 2009 | 22 | #4429 |
| 2008 | 33 | #3344 |
| 2007 | 33 | #3313 |
| 2006 | 35 | #3083 |
| 2005 | 28 | #3447 |
| 2004 | 34 | #2953 |
| 2003 | 39 | #2579 |
| 2002 | 32 | #2882 |
| 2001 | 34 | #2742 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Niall a popular boy name?
Niall ranked #1703 among boys in 2025 with 96 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2355.
When was the name Niall most popular?
Niall peaked in 2024, when 110 American boys received the name (ranked #1573 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Niall?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,750 newborn American boys was named Niall. It scores 56/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.