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Name Lineage

    The first name Niall

    A boy’s name from Irish meaning “cloud”, “champion”, “to revile”.

    Pronounced /ˈnaɪəl/ 1 syllable Male

    Meaning and origin

    Irish origin

    Niall means “cloud”, “champion”, “to revile” in Irish.

    Borrowed from Irish Niall or Scottish Gaelic Niall, ultimately from Old Irish Níall, of uncertain original meaning. Suggestions include nél (“cloud”) and nïa (“champion”), which is from Proto-Indo-European *h₃neyd- (“to revile”). Doublet of Neil.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 46 boys were named Niall, making it the 745th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 462 births (#106).

    0250500 1996200020052010201520202025
    5,792
    babies named Niall, 1996–2025
    #745
    rank in 2025
    1996
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Niall with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Niall at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 96 boys born in the United States were named Niall, the 1,706th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2024, when 110 were.

    0100200 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    2,094
    babies named Niall since 1880
    #1,706
    rank in 2025
    2024
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Niall

    4 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Niall Ferguson
      British historian, born 1964
    • Niall Matter
      Canadian-American actor, born 1980
    • Niall Mackenzie
      British motorcycle racer, born 1961
    • Niall Binns
      English poet, born 1965

    More Irish boys’ names

    All 142 names of Irish origin

    Questions

    What does the name Niall mean?
    Niall means “cloud”, “champion”, “to revile” in Irish.
    What is the origin of the name Niall?
    Borrowed from Irish Niall or Scottish Gaelic Niall, ultimately from Old Irish Níall, of uncertain original meaning. Suggestions include nél (“cloud”) and nïa (“champion”), which is from Proto-Indo-European *h₃neyd- (“to revile”). Doublet of Neil.
    How popular is the name Niall?
    In 2025, 46 boys born in England and Wales were named Niall, ranking 745th. Its peak was 1996, with 462 births.
    Is Niall a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 2,094 US babies named Niall since 1880 were boys.
    When was Niall most popular?
    2024 in the United States, when 110 babies were named Niall, its highest rank at 1,578th.
    How do you pronounce Niall?
    Niall is /ˈnaɪəl/, one syllable.