Nils
Gender: Boy
Meaning: Blue, sapphire
Origin: Sanskrit
Popularity: Ranked #4993 in 2025 with 20 babies born.
History: Nils is a name with Sanskrit roots, related to the element 'nil' meaning blue, sapphire.
Similar names: nilsa, niels, niles, nil, nilah, nissa, nissah, nissi
Name length: 4 letters
How common is Nils? About 1 in 166,425 babies born in 2025 were named Nils, or roughly 0.1 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Nils
What does the name Nils mean?
Nils means “Blue, sapphire” from Sanskrit roots.
What is the origin of the name Nils?
Nils has Sanskrit origin. The traditional meaning is “Blue, sapphire”.
How popular is Nils?
Nils ranked #4857 in 2025 — given to 20 babies that year.
When was Nils most popular?
Nils peaked in 1970 with 48 babies registered that year.
Is Nils a boy or girl name?
Nils is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Nilss in registered births are male.
Is the name Nils rising or falling in popularity?
Nils has fallen 132 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #4725 in 2020 to #4857 in 2025.
How long has Nils been recorded?
Nils appears in birth records across 116 years — from 1888 through 2025.