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At a Glance
- Meaning
- A legendary king in the Mahabharata; also associated with Swahili 'beloved, successful' in modern use
- Origin
- Sanskrit
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- NAH-lah
Nala is a clean, modern girl's name of Sanskrit origin, pronounced NAH-lah. It comes from a legendary king in the Mahabharata, and in modern use it's also associated with the Swahili 'beloved, successful.' Short and open-sounding, it's easy to say and easy to spell.
Meaning & Origin of Nala
Meaning: A legendary king in the Mahabharata; also associated with Swahili 'beloved, successful' in modern use.
Origin: Sanskrit.
How to Pronounce Nala
NAH-lahIPA /ˈnɑːlə/
Popularity of Nala
Nala ranked #752 in the U.S. in 2024, with 374 babies given the name. Its peak came in 2019, when it reached #679 with 428 babies, so it's a little below that high point today.
Names Like Nala
These names share Nala’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Nala mean?
A legendary king in the Mahabharata; also associated with Swahili ‘beloved, successful’ in modern use.
How do you pronounce Nala?
Nala is pronounced NAH-lah (IPA: /ˈnɑːlə/).
Is Nala a popular name right now?
Nala is near its all-time peak (#679 in 2019), ranked #752 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1979–2024.)
Make Nala Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Nala, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
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