Nil
A girls’ name of Sanskrit origin, meaning blue; relating to the Nile river.
Nil by the numbers
In 2025, 5 babies in England and Wales were named Nil. In the US, 19 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given noticeably more often in England and Wales than in the US.
Its best year in America so far is the most recent one on record, which means it was still climbing when the records end.
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Nil. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Sounds like Nil
Names that are said the same way as Nil, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean blue
Like Nil, each of these has blue in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Indigoindigo dye; deep blue color82 in England and Wales (2025)
- Sapphireprecious blue gemstone; from sappheiros60 in England and Wales (2025)
- Saphirasapphire; precious blue stone; a form of Sapphira141 in the US (2017)
- Azulblue116 in the US (2017)
- Neelblue, sapphire115 in the US (2017)
- Sapphirasapphire; precious blue stone49 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean a river
Like Nil, each of these has a river in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Islaisland; from the river Islay1,959 in England and Wales (2025)
- Kendallvalley of the river Kent1,634 in the US (2017)
- Sabrinafrom the River Severn; Romano-British origin732 in the US (2017)
- Loreleimurmuring rock; a Rhine river siren680 in the US (2017)
- Monroemouth of the Roe river; a surname as given name559 in the US (2017)
- Guadaluperiver of the wolf439 in the US (2017)