Nikhil
Boy name · #2853 in 2025 · Uniqueness 86/100
Nikhil ranks #2853 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 44 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1388, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 40,909 boys born in 2025 was named Nikhil.
The 54-year story
Nikhil first appears in the Social Security records in 1971, when 9 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2007, when 261 boys were named Nikhil — good for #820 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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.
Babies named Nikhil per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nikhil against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nikhil in class?
Nikhil scores 86 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Nikhil will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nikhil is most common
State-level data for Nikhil is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Nikhil
Statistically, parents drawn to Nikhil tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Sahil, Kamil, Nabil, Jibril, and Jalil.
SahilKamilNabilJibrilJalilMarkellPavelNathen
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nikhil | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 44 | #2833 |
| 2024 | 53 | #2527 |
| 2023 | 44 | #2848 |
| 2022 | 54 | #2517 |
| 2021 | 68 | #2109 |
| 2020 | 70 | #2024 |
| 2019 | 65 | #2170 |
| 2018 | 79 | #1886 |
| 2017 | 90 | #1725 |
| 2016 | 93 | #1687 |
| 2015 | 124 | #1388 |
| 2014 | 173 | #1102 |
| 2013 | 156 | #1155 |
| 2012 | 158 | #1155 |
| 2011 | 190 | #1012 |
| 2010 | 192 | #1015 |
| 2009 | 244 | #864 |
| 2008 | 241 | #877 |
| 2007 | 261 | #820 |
| 2006 | 223 | #885 |
| 2005 | 209 | #875 |
| 2004 | 204 | #862 |
| 2003 | 201 | #857 |
| 2002 | 182 | #891 |
| 2001 | 193 | #840 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nikhil a popular boy name?
Nikhil ranked #2853 among boys in 2025 with 44 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1388.
When was the name Nikhil most popular?
Nikhil peaked in 2007, when 261 American boys received the name (ranked #820 that year). Since 2007 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nikhil?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 40,909 newborn American boys was named Nikhil. It scores 86/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.