Niles
Boy name · #2484 in 2025 · Uniqueness 81/100
In 2025, 54 baby boys were named Niles, placing it at #2484 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2528, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 33,333 boys born in 2025 was named Niles.
The 128-year story
Niles first appears in the Social Security records in 1897, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1998, when 80 boys were named Niles — good for #1418 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 Niles per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Niles against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Niles in class?
Niles scores 81 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 Niles will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Niles is most common
State-level data for Niles 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 Niles
Statistically, parents drawn to Niles tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reyes, Tyrus, Ulysses, Angus, and Nino.
ReyesTyrusUlyssesAngusNinoLarsNaeemNigel
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Niles | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 54 | #2480 |
| 2024 | 39 | #3104 |
| 2023 | 53 | #2510 |
| 2022 | 59 | #2379 |
| 2021 | 64 | #2193 |
| 2020 | 70 | #2024 |
| 2019 | 64 | #2188 |
| 2018 | 49 | #2579 |
| 2017 | 65 | #2109 |
| 2016 | 54 | #2387 |
| 2015 | 49 | #2528 |
| 2014 | 53 | #2402 |
| 2013 | 39 | #2895 |
| 2012 | 45 | #2678 |
| 2011 | 41 | #2852 |
| 2010 | 29 | #3633 |
| 2009 | 47 | #2623 |
| 2008 | 37 | #3103 |
| 2007 | 50 | #2504 |
| 2006 | 38 | #2932 |
| 2005 | 36 | #2902 |
| 2004 | 43 | #2531 |
| 2003 | 41 | #2507 |
| 2002 | 41 | #2428 |
| 2001 | 54 | #1982 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Niles a popular boy name?
Niles ranked #2484 among boys in 2025 with 54 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2528.
When was the name Niles most popular?
Niles peaked in 1998, when 80 American boys received the name (ranked #1418 that year). Since 1998 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Niles?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 33,333 newborn American boys was named Niles. It scores 81/100 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.