Fun Facts About the Name Neela
- More than 1 thousand babies named Neela: U.S. records list 1,373 babies given the name Neela from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Neela Mean?
Neela is a feminine name of Sanskrit origin. It comes from the Sanskrit word nīla (नील), meaning "dark blue," "blue," or "indigo." The feminine form is nīlā (नीला), and Neela is a common English transliteration of that form. The same root gives the masculine name Neel and the alternate spelling Nila; these are not separate origins but spellings of the same Sanskrit word. In addition to the color sense, nīla can refer to indigo and to the sapphire, which are extensions of the basic meaning. The name is distinct from the Greek-derived Nile and from Arabic names such as Naila.
Neela Name History & Origins
The Sanskrit color term nīla is old, appearing in classical Sanskrit texts as a word for dark blue, indigo, and related shades. From this term come personal names in several South Asian languages. In the Ramayana, the masculine name Nila belongs to a Vanara commander and bridge-builder in Rama's army; that is a literary and mythological use of the masculine form, not the source of the feminine name. The feminine Neela developed as a personal name from the same color word. It is used in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Indian communities elsewhere, and it appears in local scripts across those languages. The English spelling Neela reflects the long ī and final ā of the Sanskrit feminine form. The name's history is tied to the old Indo-Aryan color vocabulary rather than to a single famous bearer.
How Popular is the Name Neela?
Neela has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2007. Its best rank was #2,000 in 2007.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,332 | 47 | 0.0029% |
| 2024 | #3,032 | 54 | 0.0033% |
| 2023 | #3,564 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 2022 | #3,578 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 2021 | #4,066 | 36 | 0.0022% |
| 2020 | #3,479 | 44 | 0.0027% |
| 2019 | #3,119 | 52 | 0.0031% |
| 2018 | #3,091 | 53 | 0.0031% |
| 2017 | #3,333 | 48 | 0.0028% |
| 2016 | #5,091 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2015 | #2,959 | 59 | 0.0033% |
| 2014 | #3,102 | 54 | 0.0030% |
| 2013 | #3,115 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 2012 | #3,451 | 47 | 0.0027% |
| 2011 | #2,830 | 62 | 0.0035% |
| 2010 | #2,668 | 68 | 0.0038% |
| 2009 | #2,307 | 85 | 0.0046% |
| 2008 | #2,167 | 93 | 0.0049% |
| 2007 | #2,000 | 103 | 0.0054% |
| 2006 | #2,622 | 69 | 0.0036% |
| 2005 | #3,353 | 46 | 0.0025% |
| 2004 | #3,676 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 2003 | #8,909 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #13,228 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #9,895 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #12,282 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #8,598 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1993 | #15,052 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #14,511 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #8,959 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #10,807 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #7,915 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #7,975 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #6,663 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #7,890 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1979 | #6,535 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #10,875 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #7,856 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1974 | #8,378 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1973 | #7,184 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #7,927 | 6 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Neela Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Neela's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Neela's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.