Neela — Meaning, Origin, Pronunciation & Popularity

The meaning

A name that means "blue / sapphire (sanskrit + foundational)".

Neela is from the Sanskrit Nīlā. A modern American baby name in the broader Sanskrit heritage aesthetic. Neela is a foundational name with deep heritage. Sanskrit Nīlā blue sapphire dark + foundational central in Hindu Vaishnava heritage + foundational central in Nīla Sanskrit blue foundational-central Krishnas foundational dark-blue skin-color Nīla-Ghana-Śyāmala dark-cloud-blue + foundational central in Bhagavad Gita 11:24 Vishvarupa cosmic-form + foundational central Nīla-kaṇṭha blue-throated epithet of Shiva who drank Halāhala-poison in Samudra Manthan + foundational central Nīla-Mata Purāṇa Kashmir sacred text + foundational central Nīlagiri Nilgiri-Hills sacred to Ayyappa + foundational pan-Hindu heritage. Foundational Sanskrit feminine name reflecting cultural + historical heritage spanning centuries.

Featured throughout Sanskrit heritage.

Blue / sapphire (Sanskrit + foundational) Foundational name with deep heritage anchors. Sanskrit *Nīlā* blue sapphire dark + foundational central in Hindu Vaishnava heritage + foundational central in *Nīla* Sanskrit blue foundational-central Krishnas foundational dark-blue skin-color *Nīla-Ghana-Śyāmala* dark-cloud-blue + foundational central in Bhagavad Gita 11:24 Vishvarupa cosmic-form + foundational central *Nīla-kaṇṭha* blue-throated epithet of Shiva who drank Halāhala-poison in Samudra Manthan + foundational central *Nīla-Mata Purāṇa* Kashmir sacred text + foundational central *Nīlagiri* Nilgiri-Hills sacred to Ayyappa + foundational pan-Hindu heritage

In its original form

The name in its native script.

नीला

Transliteration: Nīlā
Pronunciation: / ˈniː.lə /
Root: —
Grammatical form: —

Popularity

Where Neela stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 0 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 0 in 0

Babies named Neela · last year

88 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

0

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Neelas before her.

Real people

—

In fiction

Krishna Nila-Ghana-Shyamala / Shiva Nila-kantha Samudra Manthan / Nilagiri

Sanskrit blue sapphire dark + Nīla Sanskrit blue Krishnas dark-blue skin Nīla-Ghana-Śyāmala + Bhagavad Gita 11:24 Vishvarupa + Nīla-kaṇṭha blue-throated Shiva Halāhala-poison Samudra Manthan + Nīla-Mata Purāṇa Kashmir + Nīlagiri Nilgiri-Hills Ayyappa

Hindu Krishna + Shiva

Numerology

The number behind Neela.

1

The Builder

Neela has a strong numerological signature.

Parents on Neela

Why families chose this name.

"Sanskrit meaning. 2 syllables. Neela."

Mother of one

Neela Neela — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity