Nile
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in northeast Africa which empties into the Mediterranean Sea. At 7,088 kilometers (4,404 mi) long, it is the longest river in the world, although the volume of water it carries is much smaller than other major rivers such as the Amazon or the Congo.
Meaning & Origin of Nile
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The Nile is a major north-flowing river in northeast Africa which empties into the Mediterranean Sea. At 7,088 kilometers (4,404 mi) long, it is the longest river in the world, although the volume of water it carries is much smaller than other major rivers such as the Amazon or the Congo.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Nile
As a girl name
Nile first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1975, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 30 Niles were born — ranking #4,506 that year. As of 2026, Nile ranks #9,436 for girls with 8 births, falling sharply (-37%). In total, more than 379 Niles have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Nile first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1895, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2021, when 129 Niles were born — ranking #1,418 that year. As of 2026, Nile ranks #1,930 for boys with 83 births, gradually rising (+7%). In total, more than 4K Niles have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1890s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Nile
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nile is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nile
What does the name Nile mean?
How popular is Nile in 2026?
When was Nile most popular?
In which U.S. states is Nile most popular?
Is Nile a unisex name?
What names go well with Nile?
About the name Nile
Nile is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1895 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Nile's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #900. Use the chart and map above to compare Nile's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2021 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.