Nala Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Nala is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Nala?
Nala is spelled N-A-L-A. The name has 4 letters.
Nala at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Nala may derive from Sanskrit meaning “stem” or “hollow reed.”
- Origin
- Nala is commonly associated with Sanskrit origins and appears in various cultural contexts.
- Pronunciation
- NAH-lah · 2 syllables
Nala Popularity in 2025
Rank#856
Recorded Births317
- Girls usage fell 104 places to #856 and recorded 58 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Nala Mean?
Nala may derive from Sanskrit meaning “stem” or “hollow reed.”
Origin: Nala is commonly associated with Sanskrit origins and appears in various cultural contexts.
How Do You Pronounce Nala?
PronunciationNAH-lah
Syllables2
Nala Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 317 | #856 |
| 2024 | Girls | 375 | #752 |
| 2023 | Girls | 320 | #845 |
| 2022 | Girls | 351 | #804 |
| 2021 | Girls | 385 | #740 |
| 2020 | Girls | 406 | #695 |
| 2019 | Girls | 428 | #675 |
| 2018 | Girls | 374 | #741 |
| 2017 | Girls | 362 | #765 |
| 2016 | Girls | 365 | #777 |
| 2015 | Girls | 286 | #949 |
| 2014 | Girls | 267 | #993 |
| 2013 | Girls | 234 | #1,062 |
| 2012 | Girls | 238 | #1,055 |
| 2011 | Girls | 158 | #1,434 |
| 2010 | Girls | 125 | #1,688 |
| 2009 | Girls | 111 | #1,889 |
| 2008 | Girls | 119 | #1,816 |
| 2007 | Girls | 92 | #2,163 |
| 2006 | Girls | 102 | #1,961 |
| 2005 | Girls | 71 | #2,457 |
| 2004 | Girls | 94 | #1,972 |
| 2003 | Girls | 78 | #2,203 |
| 2002 | Girls | 48 | #3,014 |
When Was Nala Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2019 · Girls
428 recorded births
National rank #675
2020 · Girls
406 recorded births
National rank #695
2021 · Girls
385 recorded births
National rank #740
2024 · Girls
375 recorded births
National rank #752
Where Nala Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NV | #508 | 5 |
| GA | #560 | 19 |
| AL | #574 | 8 |
| FL | #634 | 27 |
| IN | #651 | 9 |
| MD | #651 | 7 |
| VA | #662 | 11 |
| IL | #709 | 13 |