The baby name Nala is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced NAH-lah (IPA: /ˈnɑːlə/), occasionally NAY-lah (/ˈneɪlə/).
The baby name Nala is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced NAH-lah (IPA: /ˈnɑːlə/), occasionally NAY-lah (/ˈneɪlə/).
Nala is Hindu, Sanskrit, Swahili in Origin.
Nala is a cross-cultural name with layered origins. In Sanskrit, Nāla is a masculine given name meaning “reed” or “hollow stalk,” borne by a virtuous king in classical epic lore. In Southern Bantu languages, especially Sesotho and Setswana, nala signifies “prosperity” or “abundance.” In Arabic-influenced usage, Nala can function as a short form or variant of Nā’ila/Nayla, interpreted as “attainer” or “one who attains,” sometimes extended to “achievement” or “acquired gift.”
Modern usage widened dramatically after the 1994 film The Lion King introduced the lioness character Nala, propelling the name into English-speaking registers. It is now predominantly feminine in the West but remains historically unisex via its Sanskrit roots. Variant spellings and related forms include Naala, Nahla, Naila, Nayla, and Nyla; Sanskrit relatives include the masculine Nala and the feminine Nalini.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Girls | 2025 | #1 | — | 411 |
| Ireland | Girls | 2025 | #1 | — | 874 |
| DJ | Boys | 0 | #36 | 1 | 657 |
| JP | 0 | #77 | 1 | 4,057 | |
| MV | Boys | 0 | #77 | 3 | 3,375 |
| QA | 0 | #106 | 1 | 7,011 | |
| PH | 0 | #110 | 1 | 5,607 | |
| BN | Girls | 0 | #114 | 1 | 5,459 |
| Switzerland | Girls | 2024 | #121 | 15 | 1,786 |
| ID | Boys | 0 | #133 | 3 | 4,130 |
| Sweden | Girls | 2022 | #172 | 8 | 1,568 |
| AE | 0 | #187 | 1 | 10,220 | |
| LU | Girls | 0 | #187 | 4 | 4,850 |
| AO | Girls | 0 | #217 | 1 | 4,575 |
| BG | Boys | 0 | #220 | 1 | 3,850 |
| HU | Girls | 0 | #225 | 1 | 3,308 |
| NA | Girls | 0 | #237 | 1 | 7,146 |
| GH | 0 | #248 | 1 | 5,396 | |
| GR | Girls | 0 | #248 | 2 | 6,293 |
| PT | 0 | #250 | 1 | 4,161 | |
| Canada | Girls | 2024 | #262 | 24 | 2,795 |
| MO | Girls | 0 | #262 | 2 | 7,056 |
| JM | Girls | 0 | #277 | 2 | 7,507 |
| IL | 0 | #282 | 1 | 6,291 | |
| TW | Girls | 0 | #287 | 3 | 8,139 |
| HR | Girls | 0 | #294 | 1 | 3,687 |
| JP | Boys | 0 | #303 | 1 | 7,909 |
| SA | 0 | #308 | 5 | 10,560 | |
| DK | Girls | 0 | #328 | 2 | 7,429 |
| KZ | Girls | 0 | #331 | 2 | 5,862 |
| JO | Girls | 0 | #333 | 7 | 7,570 |
| GH | Girls | 0 | #337 | 1 | 6,973 |
| CN | Girls | 0 | #340 | 10 | 8,829 |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #343 | 1 | 15,378 |
| CZ | Girls | 0 | #351 | 1 | 5,378 |
| MY | 0 | #352 | 3 | 12,352 | |
| HK | 0 | #356 | 2 | 8,483 | |
| SD | Girls | 0 | #356 | 3 | 7,678 |
| BR | 0 | #360 | 1 | 5,969 | |
| PL | Girls | 0 | #361 | 4 | 5,096 |
| MU | Girls | 0 | #362 | 1 | 8,539 |
| France | Girls | 2021 | #366 | 40 | 3,185 |
| MU | Boys | 0 | #369 | 1 | 8,477 |
| PT | Boys | 0 | #381 | 1 | 7,951 |
| JO | Boys | 0 | #389 | 1 | 7,057 |
| YE | 0 | #398 | 1 | 8,639 | |
| BD | Girls | 0 | #405 | 2 | 8,413 |
| BO | 0 | #406 | 3 | 6,868 | |
| EG | 0 | #412 | 1 | 6,387 | |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #416 | 9 | 15,987 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #428 | 2 | 13,098 |
| MX | 0 | #445 | 1 | 8,339 | |
| PT | Girls | 0 | #466 | 6 | 7,952 |
| ZA | 0 | #467 | 8 | 14,421 | |
| AR | Boys | 0 | #482 | 2 | 7,628 |
| IQ | Girls | 0 | #486 | 19 | 11,303 |
| GT | Boys | 0 | #499 | 1 | 7,625 |
| CR | Boys | 0 | #508 | 3 | 10,188 |
| RU | Girls | 0 | #517 | 7 | 11,913 |
| PA | Girls | 0 | #518 | 1 | 9,861 |
| RU | Boys | 0 | #526 | 1 | 12,621 |
| UY | Girls | 0 | #535 | 2 | 6,731 |
| BH | 0 | #544 | 10 | 17,937 | |
| PS | Girls | 0 | #544 | 4 | 10,981 |
| HK | Boys | 0 | #555 | 3 | 12,905 |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #555 | 7 | 19,177 |
| LY | 0 | #559 | 1 | 12,703 | |
| PS | Boys | 0 | #559 | 3 | 10,655 |
| CM | Girls | 0 | #560 | 1 | 11,671 |
| United States | Girls | 2024 | #564 | 374 | 8,487 |
| IR | Boys | 0 | #565 | 1 | 10,162 |
| CR | Girls | 0 | #571 | 3 | 11,342 |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #594 | 4 | 20,968 |
| IL | Girls | 0 | #608 | 10 | 11,648 |
| AR | Girls | 0 | #624 | 7 | 8,289 |
| IL | Boys | 0 | #624 | 2 | 10,983 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #627 | 6 | 18,916 |
| LB | 0 | #634 | 25 | 13,263 | |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #645 | 6 | 16,104 |
| BO | Girls | 0 | #648 | 4 | 9,488 |
| IN | Girls | 0 | #653 | 2 | 13,121 |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #656 | 12 | 13,071 |
| SG | Boys | 0 | #685 | 13 | 17,960 |
| Finland | Girls | 2026 | #709 | 30 | 3,895 |
| QA | Boys | 0 | #741 | 3 | 18,093 |
| SY | 0 | #760 | 8 | 11,684 | |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #785 | 1 | 12,213 |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #800 | 7 | 18,755 |
| Germany | Girls | 0 | #801 | 38 | 4,949 |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #824 | 3 | 15,093 |
| CL | Girls | 0 | #842 | 10 | 14,098 |
| TN | 0 | #863 | 3 | 13,765 | |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #885 | 51 | 25,931 |
| OM | Boys | 0 | #912 | 7 | 17,948 |
| Spain | Girls | 0 | #913 | 71 | 5,561 |
| EG | Girls | 0 | #918 | 42 | 14,742 |
| EG | Boys | 0 | #921 | 5 | 15,035 |
| PE | Boys | 0 | #924 | 3 | 14,506 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #933 | 11 | 14,861 |
| NL | Girls | 0 | #941 | 15 | 5,933 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #968 | 27 | 24,821 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #970 | 13 | 16,355 |
| CO | Boys | 0 | #981 | 1 | 15,656 |
| BR | Girls | 0 | #986 | 7 | 12,708 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #1,033 | 7 | 16,750 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,052 | 127 | 25,619 |
| CO | Girls | 0 | #1,059 | 20 | 16,140 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,090 | 52 | 25,928 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,100 | 12 | 25,439 |
| MA | 0 | #1,105 | 24 | 20,986 | |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,135 | 9 | 22,615 |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,139 | 45 | 17,781 |
| DZ | 0 | #1,163 | 14 | 20,130 | |
| TR | 0 | #1,200 | 12 | 19,440 | |
| IT | Girls | 0 | #1,415 | 32 | 9,415 |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,460 | 12 | 10,046 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,574 | 41 | 28,008 |
Nala is popular in 75 countries — most recent births per country:
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