Nihal is a distinctive choice, ranked #4193 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Nihal in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#4193
About the Name Nihal
Nihal has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 1076 places in five years. It was most popular in 2006 at #1016 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Nihal 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 Nihal
Unlikely. With around 5 UK babies named Nihal per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Nihal in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Nihal has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 1076 places in the last five years. Its peak was #1016 in 2006. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Nihal 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 Nihal include: Nihal Meshref — Nihal Meshref (Arabic: نهال مشرف; born December 24, 1970, is an Egyptian table tennis player.; Nihal Sudeesh — Nihal Sudeesh is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.; Nihal Galappaththi — Arachchige Nihal Galappaththi is a Sri Lankan politician and member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka..
Nihal does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Nihals in the wild.
5
UK babies named Nihal (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
< 1
In a school of 600
↓ 1076 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Nihal
Likely around 1 other Nihal in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to Nihal
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Nihal Meshref (Arabic: نهال مشرف; born December 24, 1970, is an Egyptian table tennis player. She represented Egypt in 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics, where she competed in women's singles event at table tennis competition.
Arachchige Nihal Galappaththi is a Sri Lankan politician and member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka. He was the presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Progressive Front in 1994.
Nihal Saad (Arabic: نهال سعد) is the Director of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC). She previously served as the Chief of Cabinet and Spokesperson for the High Representative.