Nil

Q: What is the origin of Nil?

Nil is of Sanskrit origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: How popular is the name Nil?

According to the latest SSA data, Nil is currently ranked #999999 in the United States. The popularity of this name has evolved over the past century based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Q: Is Nil a boy name?

Nil is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Dark Blue; Indigo"

Nil is used as a short name in multiple traditions, including Sanskrit-derived meanings of dark blue and Scandinavian nickname usage.

Themes:sanskritcolorshortmale

Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Nil

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

UnrankedNot ranked

SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Nil did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Nil Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Nil.

8 ideas

Nickname

nilo

Nickname

nily

Nickname

nilie

Nickname

nie

Nickname

nnie

Nickname

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Baby Name Lists That Include Nil

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Nil, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

15 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Nil mean?

Nil means "Dark Blue; Indigo". Nil is used as a short name in multiple traditions, including Sanskrit-derived meanings of dark blue and Scandinavian ni

What is the origin of Nil?

Nil is of Sanskrit origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Nil?

According to the latest SSA data, Nil is currently not ranked in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Nil a boy name?

Nil is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Nil?

Popular nicknames for Nil include ni, nilo, nily, nilie, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Nil?

There are many names similar to Nil in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginSanskrit, Scandinavian

Syllables1

Length3 letters

Trend→ Stable

Starts withN

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Aditya Amar Ajay Arnav Anish

Sisters

Ayana Asha Amiya Anjali Anisha

Explore More Boy Names Like Nil

Nil has Sanskrit roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Sanskrit baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Nil appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Scandinavian Baby Names and Indian Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Unique Baby Names and Names That Mean Child Of God for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Nil pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Nil beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.