Nile
Boy name · #1840 in 2025 · Uniqueness 70/100
Nile ranks #1840 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 86 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #2328, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 20,930 boys born in 2025 was named Nile.
Babies named Nile per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 130-year story
Nile first appears in the Social Security records in 1895, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2021, when 129 boys were named Nile — good for #1419 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nile against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nile in class?
Nile scores 70 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 Nile will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nile is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nile is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Niles were FL (8), NY (7), IA (6), OH (5), TX (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 Nile
Statistically, parents drawn to Nile tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Nyle, Naim, Lake, Arie, and Ryle.
NyleNaimLakeArieRyleAxleNiallRayne
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nile | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 86 | #1837 |
| 2024 | 81 | #1938 |
| 2023 | 92 | #1765 |
| 2022 | 110 | #1597 |
| 2021 | 129 | #1419 |
| 2020 | 86 | #1766 |
| 2019 | 75 | #1954 |
| 2018 | 75 | #1959 |
| 2017 | 58 | #2270 |
| 2016 | 81 | #1845 |
| 2015 | 56 | #2328 |
| 2014 | 72 | #1979 |
| 2013 | 49 | #2492 |
| 2012 | 66 | #2066 |
| 2011 | 51 | #2437 |
| 2010 | 65 | #2069 |
| 2009 | 43 | #2800 |
| 2008 | 48 | #2583 |
| 2007 | 53 | #2416 |
| 2006 | 48 | #2513 |
| 2005 | 45 | #2493 |
| 2004 | 28 | #3368 |
| 2003 | 47 | #2269 |
| 2002 | 44 | #2337 |
| 2001 | 54 | #1982 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nile a popular boy name?
Nile ranked #1840 among boys in 2025 with 86 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2328.
When was the name Nile most popular?
Nile peaked in 2021, when 129 American boys received the name (ranked #1419 that year). Since 2021 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nile?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 20,930 newborn American boys was named Nile. It scores 70/100 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.