Unisex · #12,274 in 2026

Nirel

Nirel (transl. Shadow) is a 2014 Indian Tulu-language film directed by Ranjith Bajpe starring Anoop Sagar, Varuna Shetty, and Deepthi Sailan. This will be the first Tulu film produced overseas and shot completely in the Gulf region.

Current Rank
#12,274
Peak Rank
#8,883 (2005)
Total Babies
73
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #8,883 (73 total)
👦 Boy peak #9,864 (13 total)
👧As Girl Name
1997
First Year
2010
Last Year
2005
Peak Year
#8883
Peak Rank
73
Total Count
9
Years Active
👦As Boy Name
2006
First Year
2024
Last Year
2024
Peak Year
#9864
Peak Rank
13
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Nirel

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Nirel (transl. Shadow) is a 2014 Indian Tulu-language film directed by Ranjith Bajpe starring Anoop Sagar, Varuna Shetty, and Deepthi Sailan. This will be the first Tulu film produced overseas and shot completely in the Gulf region.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Nirel

As a girl name

Nirel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1997, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2005, when 12 Nirels were born — ranking #8,883 that year. As of 2026, Nirel ranks #12,274 for girls with 8 births, with steady use. In total, more than 73 Nirels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Nirel first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2006, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2024, when 7 Nirels were born — ranking #9,864 that year. As of 2026, Nirel ranks #9,864 for boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 13 Nirels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Nirel

Phonetically similar names — useful when Nirel 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 Nirel

What does the name Nirel mean?
Nirel (transl. Shadow) is a 2014 Indian Tulu-language film directed by Ranjith Bajpe starring Anoop Sagar, Varuna Shetty, and Deepthi Sailan. This will be the first Tulu film produced overseas and shot completely in the Gulf region.
How popular is Nirel in 2026?
In 2026, Nirel ranks #12,274 among girls' names in the U.S., with 8 babies given the name that year.
When was Nirel most popular?
Nirel reached its peak popularity in 2005, ranking #8,883 that year with 12 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Nirel most popular?
Nirel has historically been most popular in California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Nirel.
Is Nirel a unisex name?
Yes — Nirel is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 85% of Nirels assigned female and 15% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Nirel?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Nirel include Valerye, Nychelle, Arpita. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Nirel

Nirel is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1997 and has accumulated 73 births in the dataset. Nirel's peak popularity came in 2005 when it ranked #8,883. Use the chart and map above to compare Nirel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.