Niall
Say it: NY-al/ˈnaɪəl/
BoyIrishMythology5 letters2 syllables
#244
in Ireland (2025)
#239 with spellings combined
19
babies in 2025
#16
best rank (1991)
13,353
babies since 1964
Down 135
10-year rank change
Niall through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | #239 |
| 2024 | 29 | #171 |
| 2023 | 21 | #214 |
| 2022 | 25 | #200 |
| 2021 | 38 | #153 |
| 2020 | 40 | #145 |
| 2019 | 32 | #176 |
| 2018 | 37 | #160 |
| 2017 | 46 | #134 |
| 2016 | 53 | #125 |
| 2015 | 69 | #104 |
| 2014 | 85 | #91 |
| 2013 | 87 | #88 |
| 2012 | 86 | #93 |
| 2011 | 91 | #86 |
| 2010 | 84 | #91 |
| 2009 | 113 | #69 |
| 2008 | 98 | #83 |
| 2007 | 99 | #76 |
| 2006 | 126 | #60 |
| 2005 | 147 | #53 |
| 2004 | 152 | #50 |
| 2003 | 128 | #54 |
| 2002 | 175 | #40 |
| 2001 | 179 | #41 |
| 2000 | 199 | #38 |
| 1999 | 197 | #36 |
| 1998 | 174 | #37 |
| 1997 | 254 | #35 |
| 1996 | 257 | #33 |
| 1995 | 290 | #28 |
| 1994 | 303 | #24 |
| 1993 | 342 | #19 |
| 1992 | 325 | #21 |
| 1991 | 440 | #16 |
| 1990 | 369 | #21 |
| 1989 | 310 | #26 |
| 1988 | 350 | #21 |
| 1987 | 327 | #30 |
| 1986 | 362 | #26 |
| 1985 | 346 | #26 |
| 1984 | 327 | #31 |
| 1983 | 379 | #27 |
| 1982 | 403 | #25 |
| 1981 | 410 | #24 |
| 1980 | 393 | #24 |
| 1979 | 373 | #25 |
| 1978 | 362 | #25 |
| 1977 | 370 | #23 |
| 1976 | 359 | #25 |
| 1975 | 368 | #26 |
| 1974 | 350 | #24 |
| 1973 | 319 | #28 |
| 1972 | 331 | #24 |
| 1971 | 265 | #35 |
| 1970 | 277 | #28 |
| 1969 | 252 | #32 |
| 1968 | 225 | #35 |
| 1967 | 184 | #40 |
| 1966 | 176 | #40 |
| 1965 | 184 | #39 |
| 1964 | 142 | #47 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Niall mean?
Uncertain, perhaps "champion" or "cloud"
Irish, from Old Irish Níall, of uncertain meaning.
Say it right
NYal
Closer to the Irish it is NEE-al, and many people say it that way. In Scotland NEEL is also heard.
The story of Niall
Niall goes back to the Old Irish Níall, and nobody knows for sure what it meant. Suggestions include nél, cloud, and nia, champion. The historian John Ryan thought the name so old that its meaning was already lost before anyone wrote it down. The English names Neil and Neal, and the surname MacNeill, all come from it.
The most famous bearer is Niall Noígíallach, Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary and possibly historical king placed around the 5th century. His descendants, the Uí Néill, were the dominant dynasties in Ireland for centuries. Stories explain his nickname in different ways, and one tells how he kissed a hag at a well, who turned out to be the Sovereignty of Ireland.
Niall was a top-50 name in Ireland every year from 1964 to 2002. Its best year was 1991, with 440 boys and a place at number 16. It was number 244 on the CSO list in 2025, with 19 boys. In Northern Ireland its highest place was 26th, in 1998.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Niall (Irish proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Niall (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Niall
- Wikipedia: Niall of the Nine Hostages
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Niall | 19 | 13,353 |
In Northern Ireland
#120 in 2025 with 19 babies. Best rank #26 (1998); 1,463 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.