Nilesh
Nilesh is an Indian name based on one of two deities, Vishnu or Shiva, in Hinduism, depending on which of its two Hindi pronunciations are used. 'Nilesh' means 'the Blue God', and is one of the alternate names for Vishnu, "The Preserver." Later, the name was also used to refer to Shiva, "The Destroyer of Evil", "The King." The name is a combination (sandhi) of two words: Neel ("blue") and Ish.
Meaning & Origin of Nilesh
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Nilesh is an Indian name based on one of two deities, Vishnu or Shiva, in Hinduism, depending on which of its two Hindi pronunciations are used. 'Nilesh' means 'the Blue God', and is one of the alternate names for Vishnu, "The Preserver." Later, the name was also used to refer to Shiva, "The Destroyer of Evil", "The King." The name is a combination (sandhi) of two words: Neel ("blue") and Ish.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Nilesh
Nilesh first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1966, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1982, when 14 Nileshs were born — ranking #3,108 that year. As of 2026, Nilesh ranks #12,106 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 178 Nileshs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Nilesh
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nilesh 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 Nilesh
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About the name Nilesh
Nilesh is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1966 and has accumulated 178 births in the dataset. Nilesh's peak popularity came in 1982 when it ranked #3,108. Use the chart and map above to compare Nilesh's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1982 →
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- Top names of 2026 →
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.