Niall is a boy name with a rare feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Niall means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Niall across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Niall has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Niall is a boy name of Irish (Gaelic) origin meaning “champion, or cloud”. An ancient Irish name, source of Neil.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 2,094 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 5,716 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 1,805 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 1,444 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 13,353 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Niall per year, England & Wales (1996 to 2025). England & Wales peaked in 1996 (462/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1991 (440/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1998 (119/yr) · United States peaked in 2024 (110/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1990 (65/yr).
Niall is an uncommon baby name in the United States. It was most common in 2024, when it ranked #3,374 nationally (given to 232 babies that year).
Nell · Noelle · Neal · Newell · Nala · Nael
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