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Nila

Girl name · 4 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Nila: 4 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 2024.

With roots in the ancient Sanskrit word *nīla*, meaning “dark blue” or “sapphire,” Nila also appears in Arabic and Persian as a name for the indigo dye or the colour itself, giving it a rich, jewel-toned heritage. In Hindu mythology, Nila is the name of a clever monkey general in the Ramayana, while in more recent times the Indian film-maker Nila Madhab Panda has brought the name into cultural view. The Nila River in Kerala, India, shares the same etymological root, and the Nilgiri mountains are named after the same word for blue. In Scotland, Nila remains an uncommon but quietly elegant choice, its simplicity and cross-cultural resonance making it a fresh alternative to more familiar Scottish names.