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The short answer
Nyla is a feminine English name that Behind the Name treats as probably a feminine form of Niles, though the underlying meaning of Niles itself is not documented on that source and so is not verified here. The name gained popularity in the early 2000s, likely helped along by the similar-sounding Kyla. It is pronounced NY-lə. In the United States it ranked #236 for girls in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name describes Nyla as "probably a feminine form of Niles", without further glossing what Niles itself means; that root name is not in the cached source set for this pass, so its meaning is not verified. The same entry attributes Nyla's early-2000s rise to phonetic similarity with Kyla rather than to any older naming tradition.
Editorial confidence: uncertain
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| English | Niles | not verified |
Popularity
Nyla ranked #236 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration).
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #236 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Nylah
Related names: Niles, Kyla
What the name feels like
Nyla is a short, two-syllable name with a soft opening and an open final vowel, giving it a breezy, contemporary feel similar to Kyla and Layla. It reads as modern rather than traditional, without an older documented history as a first name.
Style tags: modern, two syllables, sound-alike coinage
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial judgment, not linguistic fact.
If you like this name
Names that share Nyla's sound or its recent, sound-driven rise in use.
Similar by sound
Similar by popularity
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nyla mean?
Behind the Name describes Nyla as probably a feminine form of Niles, though the meaning of Niles itself is not documented in the sources used for this profile.
Is Nyla a popular name?
Nyla ranked #236 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Is Nyla the same name as Nylah?
Behind the Name lists Nylah as a variant spelling of Nyla.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Nyla — supports etymology, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
