Niall is a distinctive choice, ranked #613 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Niall in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#613
About the Name Niall
Niall has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 182 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #106 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Niall is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Niall
Unlikely. With around 62 UK babies named Niall per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Niall in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Niall has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 182 places in the last five years. Its peak was #106 in 1996. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Niall is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.
Notable people named Niall include: Niall Ferguson — Sir Niall Campbell Ferguson is a British-American historian who is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a senior fellow at the Belfer...; Niall Stanage — Niall Stanage is an Irish journalist and associate editor of the American political newspaper The Hill.; Niall Treacy — Niall Treacy is a British short-track speed skater..
Niall does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Nialls in the wild.
62
UK babies named Niall (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 182 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Niall
Likely around 1 other Niall in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to Niall
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Sir Niall Campbell Ferguson is a British-American historian who is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and a senior fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. Previously, he was a professor at Harvard University, the London School of Economics, New York University, a visiting professor at the New College of the Humanities, and a senior research fellow at Jesus College, Oxford.
Niall Aadya Mason is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Qatar SC. He was born in Brighton, and played youth football for Real Madrid, Al Sadd, Blackburn Rovers and Southampton before he signed his first professional deal at Villa.
Niall Noígíallach (pronounced [ˈn̠ʲiːa̯l̪ n̪oːi̯ˈɣʲiːa̯l̪əx]; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, and possibly historical, Irish king. He was reputedly a High King of Ireland, and the progenitor of the Uí Néill dynasties who dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries.
Niall Glúndub mac Áeda (Modern Irish: Niall Glúndubh mac Aodha, 'Niall Black-Knee, son of Áed'; died 14 September 919) was a 10th-century Irish king of the Cenél nEógain and High King of Ireland. Many Irish kin groups were members of the Uí Néill and traced their descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages (Niall Noígiallach).
Niall mac Áeda (died 846), called Niall Caille (Niall of the Callan) to distinguish him from his grandson Niall mac Áeda (died 917), was High King of Ireland.
Sir Niall mac Cailein, also known as Neil Campbell or Nigel Campbell, was a nobleman and warrior who spent his life in the service of King Robert the Bruce, His Gaelic name means "Niall, Colin's son" since he was the son of Cailean Mór. His services to the King elevated the Campbells into the higher ranks of the Scottish nobility.