The baby name Nilah is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced NEE-lah (IPA: /ˈniː.lə/).
The baby name Nilah is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced NEE-lah (IPA: /ˈniː.lə/).
Nilah is Arabic, English, Sanskrit in Origin.
Nilah blends several traditions. In South Asian usage, it aligns with Nila/Neela from Sanskrit nīla, meaning blue, indigo, or sapphire, and in Tamil, nila also means moon. In Arabic contexts it parallels Naila/Nyla, from nāʾila, attainer or one who achieves, often glossed as gift, with the -h spelling shaped by English orthography. Together these streams give Nilah luminous sky-and-sea imagery alongside a note of accomplishment.
As a given name, Neela/Nila has long currency across India and Sri Lanka; Nila appears in classical texts and folklore, while the Ramayana mentions a (male) Nila. Nilah as a distinct spelling is newer in the Anglophone world, rising in the 21st century alongside Nyla/Nylah. Variants and cognates include Nila, Neela, Neila, Nyla/Nylah, Naila, and Neelah. Common pronunciations are NEE-lah (South Asian) and NYE-lah (Arabic-influenced).
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Girls | 2017 | #173 | 2 | 1,647 |
| AO | Girls | 0 | #217 | 1 | 4,575 |
| Canada | Girls | 2022 | #276 | 5 | 2,867 |
| JM | Girls | 0 | #278 | 1 | 7,507 |
| France | Girls | 2021 | #403 | 3 | 3,185 |
| BD | Girls | 0 | #405 | 2 | 8,413 |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #422 | 3 | 15,987 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #429 | 1 | 13,098 |
| CR | Girls | 0 | #573 | 1 | 11,342 |
| BH | 0 | #587 | 1 | 17,937 | |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #597 | 1 | 20,968 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #632 | 1 | 18,916 |
| KW | Boys | 0 | #806 | 1 | 18,755 |
| United States | Girls | 2024 | #887 | 30 | 8,487 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #983 | 12 | 24,821 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,008 | 7 | 25,931 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,181 | 2 | 25,439 |
| MA | 0 | #1,198 | 2 | 20,986 | |
| TR | 0 | #1,251 | 4 | 19,440 | |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,691 | 1 | 28,008 |
Nilah is popular in 18 countries — most recent births per country:
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