Meaning and history
Nala is a Sanskrit name meaning “stem” or “reed,” borne by the heroic king in the Hindu story of Nala and Damayanti. The name is used for both sexes in modern contexts and became internationally familiar through the lioness Nala in Disney’s The Lion King. South African musician Nala Sinephro is a contemporary bearer.
20062006: 102 births, rank #1,961
2007: 92 births, rank #2,163
2008: 119 births, rank #1,816
2009: 111 births, rank #1,889
2010: 125 births, rank #1,688
20112011: 158 births, rank #1,434
2012: 238 births, rank #1,055
2013: 234 births, rank #1,062
2014: 267 births, rank #993
2015: 286 births, rank #949
20162016: 365 births, rank #777
2017: 362 births, rank #765
2018: 374 births, rank #741
2019: 428 births, rank #675
2020: 406 births, rank #695
20212021: 385 births, rank #740
2022: 351 births, rank #804
2023: 320 births, rank #845
2024: 375 births, rank #752
20252025: 317 births, rank #856
Nala moved from #753 to #856 for girls between 2024 and 2025. Its highest annual birth count came in 2019, with 428 births.