Niles
Meaningson of Neil · English
- US rank
- #2,480
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #888 in 1942
54 babies were named Niles in the US in 2025. It has dropped 456 places in five years.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1897–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Niles you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 31,646 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Niles, 54 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Niles would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryNiles first shows up in US birth records in 1897, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 128 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 1942, when it reached #888.
- TrendNiles has slipped 456 places over the last five years and now sits at #2,480. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedNiles is most popular in Washington, where it ranks #999. It's in the top 1,000 in 1 state.
- MeaningIn English, Niles means “son of Neil”. Our records link it to Danish and English roots.
- OriginNiles is the #6 most popular Danish boy name in the US. That's out of 15 Danish boy and unisex names in our list.
About the name Niles
Niles is a boy name of Danish and English origin meaning “son of Neil”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with N and ending in “-les”. US birth records list Niles for boys from 1897 to 2025, in 117 of those 129 years. Its best year was 1942, when it ranked #888 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #2,480, with 54 babies.
Origin:Danish namesEnglish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1890s | 15 | 67,720 boys |
| 1900s | 3.3 | 301,205 boys |
| 1910s | 26 | 39,017 boys |
| 1920s | 26 | 39,002 boys |
| 1930s | 29 | 34,247 boys |
| 1940s | 29 | 33,979 boys |
| 1950s | 20 | 51,073 boys |
| 1960s | 14 | 71,378 boys |
| 1970s | 19 | 51,546 boys |
| 1980s | 23 | 43,745 boys |
| 1990s | 29 | 34,746 boys |
| 2000s | 23 | 44,170 boys |
| 2010s | 26 | 38,388 boys |
| 2020s | 33 | 30,581 boys |
Other spellings of Niles
More Danish boy names
- Boy name: Lucas · man from Lucania
- Boy name: Johan · God is gracious
- Boy name: Viggo · battle, war
- Boy name: Argus · shining
- Boy name: Aron
- Boy name: Arlan
- Boy name: Tag
- Boy name: Bardo
Questions about the name Niles
What does the name Niles mean?
Niles means “son of Neil” in English.
What is the origin of the name Niles?
Niles has Danish, English roots in our records. Other Danish names include Lucas, Johan, Viggo.
Is Niles a boy or girl name?
Niles is a boy name.
How popular is the name Niles?
Niles ranked #2,480 for US boys in 2025, given to 54 babies. Its best year was 1942 (#888).