Nijah
Every Nijah since 1977 — 1,403 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Nijah
Nijah is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1977, 1,403 American babies have been named Nijah — about 87% girls and 13% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1998, when 81 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
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 Nijah stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Nijah year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 10 | #10,052 | — | — |
| 2023 | 5 | #16,937 | 5 | #13,588 |
| 2022 | 8 | #11,936 | 6 | #11,882 |
| 2021 | 13 | #8,343 | — | — |
| 2020 | 5 | #16,849 | — | — |
| 2019 | 8 | #12,129 | 5 | #13,555 |
| 2018 | 8 | #12,190 | — | — |
| 2017 | 14 | #8,170 | 10 | #7,975 |
| 2016 | 11 | #9,914 | 10 | #7,984 |
| 2015 | 15 | #7,891 | 6 | #11,689 |
| 2014 | 10 | #10,733 | 13 | #6,527 |
| 2013 | 11 | #10,068 | 8 | #9,409 |
| 2012 | 12 | #9,556 | 11 | #7,398 |
| 2011 | 27 | #5,162 | — | — |
| 2010 | 33 | #4,472 | 5 | #13,693 |
| 2009 | 55 | #3,118 | 11 | #7,560 |
| 2008 | 35 | #4,427 | 8 | #9,604 |
| 2007 | 30 | #4,911 | — | — |
| 2006 | 30 | #4,767 | 6 | #11,639 |
| 2005 | 54 | #2,994 | 8 | #8,869 |
| 2004 | 65 | #2,579 | 7 | #9,655 |
| 2003 | 75 | #2,275 | 6 | #10,496 |
| 2002 | 53 | #2,845 | 9 | #7,460 |
| 2001 | 63 | #2,479 | 8 | #8,093 |
| 2000 | 71 | #2,231 | 8 | #7,970 |
| 1995 | 39 | #3,005 | 5 | #9,869 |
| 1990 | 19 | #5,002 | — | — |
| 1985 | 7 | #8,985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Nijah in 2025?
Nijah did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Nijah?
1,403 babies have been named Nijah in the United States since 1977, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Nijah most popular?
Nijah peaked in 1998, when 81 newborns received the name.
Is Nijah a boy or girl name?
Nijah is used for both: about 87% of babies named Nijah have been girls and 13% boys.
Is the name Nijah rising or falling?
Nijah is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.