Nile
Every Nile since 1895 — 4,066 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Nile
Nile is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #1,848 in 2025 with 86 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1895, 4,066 American babies have been named Nile — about 91% boys and 9% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2021, when 159 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 Nile stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Nile 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 | 8 | #11,642 | 86 | #1,848 |
| 2024 | 10 | #10,054 | 81 | #1,948 |
| 2023 | 7 | #13,089 | 92 | #1,770 |
| 2022 | 16 | #7,204 | 110 | #1,605 |
| 2021 | 30 | #4,579 | 129 | #1,421 |
| 2020 | 10 | #10,075 | 86 | #1,773 |
| 2019 | 10 | #10,273 | 75 | #1,971 |
| 2018 | 15 | #7,662 | 75 | #1,971 |
| 2017 | 14 | #8,171 | 58 | #2,289 |
| 2016 | 13 | #8,743 | 81 | #1,855 |
| 2015 | 16 | #7,512 | 56 | #2,341 |
| 2014 | 15 | #7,962 | 72 | #1,992 |
| 2013 | 13 | #8,928 | 49 | #2,514 |
| 2012 | 7 | #14,601 | 66 | #2,085 |
| 2011 | 9 | #11,909 | 51 | #2,466 |
| 2010 | — | — | 65 | #2,087 |
| 2009 | 8 | #13,362 | 43 | #2,831 |
| 2008 | 7 | #14,971 | 48 | #2,616 |
| 2007 | 14 | #8,879 | 53 | #2,429 |
| 2006 | 7 | #14,706 | 48 | #2,530 |
| 2005 | 10 | #10,716 | 45 | #2,516 |
| 2004 | 17 | #7,015 | 28 | #3,429 |
| 2003 | 8 | #12,089 | 47 | #2,300 |
| 2002 | 7 | #13,248 | 44 | #2,359 |
| 2001 | 11 | #9,196 | 54 | #2,000 |
| 2000 | 10 | #9,685 | 44 | #2,244 |
| 1995 | 6 | #12,893 | 56 | #1,640 |
| 1990 | 6 | #12,435 | 28 | #2,473 |
| 1985 | — | — | 18 | #2,795 |
| 1980 | — | — | 26 | #2,099 |
| 1975 | 5 | #10,102 | 14 | #2,864 |
| 1970 | — | — | 10 | #3,210 |
| 1965 | — | — | 11 | #2,577 |
| 1960 | — | — | 16 | #2,096 |
| 1955 | — | — | 16 | #2,024 |
| 1950 | — | — | 24 | #1,525 |
| 1945 | — | — | 16 | #1,744 |
| 1940 | — | — | 39 | #1,045 |
| 1935 | — | — | 12 | #2,211 |
| 1930 | — | — | 26 | #1,453 |
| 1925 | — | — | 31 | #1,324 |
| 1920 | — | — | 19 | #1,862 |
| 1915 | — | — | 30 | #1,207 |
| 1910 | — | — | 5 | #1,776 |
| 1905 | — | — | 8 | #980 |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | 5 | #1,202 |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Nile
- Nile Rodgers Singer · b. 1952
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Nile in 2025?
Nile ranked #1,848 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 86 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Nile?
4,066 babies have been named Nile in the United States since 1895, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Nile most popular?
Nile peaked in 2021, when 159 newborns received the name.
Is Nile a boy or girl name?
Nile is used for both: about 9% of babies named Nile have been girls and 91% boys.
Is the name Nile rising or falling?
Nile is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Nile?
Well-known people named Nile include Nile Rodgers (singer).