Niles
Every Niles since 1897 — 4,455 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Niles
Niles is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,506 in 2025 with 54 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1897, 4,455 American babies have been named Niles. Its peak came in 1998, when 80 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 Niles stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Niles year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 54 | #2,506 |
| 2024 | 39 | #3,146 |
| 2023 | 53 | #2,531 |
| 2022 | 59 | #2,398 |
| 2021 | 64 | #2,212 |
| 2020 | 70 | #2,040 |
| 2019 | 64 | #2,207 |
| 2018 | 49 | #2,603 |
| 2017 | 65 | #2,125 |
| 2016 | 54 | #2,404 |
| 2015 | 49 | #2,555 |
| 2014 | 53 | #2,419 |
| 2013 | 39 | #2,936 |
| 2012 | 45 | #2,704 |
| 2011 | 41 | #2,886 |
| 2010 | 29 | #3,689 |
| 2009 | 47 | #2,647 |
| 2008 | 37 | #3,149 |
| 2007 | 50 | #2,527 |
| 2006 | 38 | #2,967 |
| 2005 | 36 | #2,943 |
| 2004 | 43 | #2,559 |
| 2003 | 41 | #2,540 |
| 2002 | 41 | #2,460 |
| 2001 | 54 | #2,001 |
| 2000 | 64 | #1,754 |
| 1995 | 70 | #1,429 |
| 1990 | 45 | #1,773 |
| 1985 | 45 | #1,498 |
| 1980 | 37 | #1,613 |
| 1975 | 45 | #1,295 |
| 1970 | 21 | #1,974 |
| 1965 | 28 | #1,473 |
| 1960 | 35 | #1,354 |
| 1955 | 42 | #1,160 |
| 1950 | 57 | #914 |
| 1945 | 36 | #1,099 |
| 1940 | 35 | #1,124 |
| 1935 | 27 | #1,318 |
| 1930 | 29 | #1,360 |
| 1925 | 25 | #1,524 |
| 1920 | 27 | #1,450 |
| 1915 | 16 | #1,860 |
| 1910 | 6 | #1,536 |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | 5 | #1,443 |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Niles
- Niles Eldredge Geologist · b. 1943
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Niles in 2025?
Niles ranked #2,506 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 54 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Niles?
4,455 babies have been named Niles in the United States since 1897, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Niles most popular?
Niles peaked in 1998, when 80 newborns received the name.
Is Niles a boy or girl name?
Niles is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Niles rising or falling?
Niles is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Niles?
Well-known people named Niles include Niles Eldredge (geologist).