Niall
Borrowed from Irish Niall or Scottish Gaelic Niall, ultimately from Old Irish Níall, of uncertain original meaning.
Every Niall since 1955 — 2,094 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Niall
Niall is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,706 in 2025 with 96 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1955, 2,094 American babies have been named Niall. Its peak came in 2024, when 110 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Niall stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Niall year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 96 | #1,706 |
| 2024 | 110 | #1,578 |
| 2023 | 90 | #1,799 |
| 2022 | 77 | #1,992 |
| 2021 | 84 | #1,850 |
| 2020 | 66 | #2,129 |
| 2019 | 68 | #2,122 |
| 2018 | 96 | #1,668 |
| 2017 | 76 | #1,908 |
| 2016 | 53 | #2,429 |
| 2015 | 55 | #2,380 |
| 2014 | 64 | #2,150 |
| 2013 | 69 | #2,004 |
| 2012 | 43 | #2,805 |
| 2011 | 34 | #3,286 |
| 2010 | 18 | #5,182 |
| 2009 | 22 | #4,546 |
| 2008 | 33 | #3,402 |
| 2007 | 33 | #3,363 |
| 2006 | 35 | #3,135 |
| 2005 | 28 | #3,504 |
| 2004 | 34 | #2,998 |
| 2003 | 39 | #2,606 |
| 2002 | 32 | #2,925 |
| 2001 | 34 | #2,774 |
| 2000 | 37 | #2,563 |
| 1995 | 31 | #2,481 |
| 1990 | 26 | #2,597 |
| 1985 | 8 | #5,020 |
| 1980 | 11 | #3,771 |
| 1975 | 12 | #3,184 |
| 1970 | 14 | #2,595 |
| 1965 | — | — |
| 1960 | 6 | #3,937 |
| 1955 | 5 | #4,222 |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Niall
- Niall Ferguson Historian · b. 1964
- Niall Horan Singer · b. 1993
- Niall Quinn Soccer player · b. 1966
- Niall Matter Actor · b. 1980
- Niall McGinn Soccer player · b. 1987
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Niall mean?
Borrowed from Irish Niall or Scottish Gaelic Niall, ultimately from Old Irish Níall, of uncertain original meaning.
How popular is the name Niall in 2025?
Niall ranked #1,706 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 96 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Niall?
2,094 babies have been named Niall in the United States since 1955, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Niall most popular?
Niall peaked in 2024, when 110 newborns received the name.
Is Niall a boy or girl name?
Niall is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Niall rising or falling?
Niall is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Niall?
Well-known people named Niall include Niall Ferguson (historian), Niall Horan (singer), Niall Quinn (soccer player).