Fun Facts About the Name Nihaal
- 232 babies named Nihaal: U.S. records list 232 babies given the name Nihaal from 1880 through 2025. Even 5 girls received the name Nihaal - about 1 girl for every 45 boys.
What Does the Name Nihaal Mean?
Nihaal is a given name used mainly in South Asia, Iran, and Turkey, and also in Arabic-speaking countries. In Urdu and Hindi it is commonly understood to mean "happy" or "delighted"; in Persian the same letters spell nihāl (نهال), a sapling or young tree.
These are two separate words that happen to look identical in Latin spelling, rather than one root with two senses. Urdu نہال nihāl belongs to the vocabulary of joy and appears in the set phrase khush o nihāl, "happy and delighted." Persian نهال nihāl is an everyday noun for a young plant or shoot, and that word is generally taken as the source of the Turkish name Nihal.
The Turkish name is usually feminine, while in Urdu and Hindi Nihaal is more often masculine. Arabic also has a word written نِهَال, and the name is used in Arabic-speaking countries, but whether the Arabic given name comes from that Arabic word or was taken over from Persian is not settled.
Nihaal Name History & Origins
Nihaal belongs to a cluster of transliterations - Nihal, Nehal, Nihaal - all standing for the same Persian and Urdu word nihāl, with the doubled a marking its long vowel. The name is borne by Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs in India and Pakistan, and by Persian speakers in Iran. In the Punjab it is documented in the nineteenth century: Nau Nihal Singh, a grandson of Ranjit Singh, died in 1840, and Nihal Singh remains a familiar Sikh name.
In Turkey, Nihal is normally a woman's name and is understood as the Persian word for "sapling," the same noun that Persian speakers use for young trees and shoots. South Asian users of the name more often have the Urdu sense of happiness in mind, so the two regions connect the name to different meanings.
In Sri Lanka, Nihal is a common Sinhalese male name. Whether it descends from the same Persian and Urdu word or developed independently is not clear.
How Popular is the Name Nihaal?
Nihaal 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 2025. Its best rank was #4,216 in 2025.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | #18,116 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,216 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2024 | #4,505 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2023 | #7,602 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #5,364 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #6,572 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #4,654 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #5,726 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #8,624 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #6,562 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2016 | #7,980 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #5,453 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2014 | #6,941 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #7,397 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #11,774 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #13,900 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #10,566 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #12,784 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #11,101 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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 Nihaal 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 are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Nihaal's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Nihaal's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.