Neala: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Neala is a modern feminine form of Niall, a name whose meaning is uncertain (possibly “champion”). Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Gender
- Girl
- Also spelled
- Neila
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 443 for girls (2025)
How do you pronounce Neala?
Neala is pronounced NEE-la. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Neila.
What does Neala mean?
Neala is a modern feminine form of Niall, based on its English spelling Neal. It is not a traditional Irish name and does not appear in Patrick Woulfe’s 1923 list of Irish women’s names. Its meaning comes from Niall, whose origin is disputed: it may come from the Old Irish nia “champion, hero,” from an old Celtic root meaning “passion,” or from nél “cloud.”
The most famous bearer of Niall is Niall of the Nine Hostages, a legendary and possibly historical king of the 4th or 5th century, remembered as the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th century.
Sources: Behind the Name, nameberry.com, Wikipedia, Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames (1923).
How popular is Neala in Ireland?
In 2025, 8 baby girls in Ireland were named Neala, which made it No. 443 that year. That's up from No. 532 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 2014, when 15 baby girls were named Neala, No. 321 that year. It first appears in the records in 2007, with 5 baby girls.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | No. 443 |
| 2024 | 6 | No. 556 |
| 2023 | 5 | No. 625 |
| 2022 | 5 | No. 634 |
| 2021 | 8 | No. 464 |
| 2020 | 6 | No. 544 |
| 2019 | 6 | No. 551 |
| 2018 | 4 | No. 734 |
| 2017 | 13 | No. 324 |
| 2016 | 11 | No. 390 |
| 2015 | 7 | No. 532 |
| 2014 | 15 | No. 321 |
| 2013 | 6 | No. 587 |
| 2012 | 5 | No. 677 |
| 2010 | 5 | No. 663 |
| 2009 | 7 | No. 539 |
| 2008 | 3 | No. 862 |
| 2007 | 5 | No. 624 |
Neala in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Neala, letter by letter.
- NNion, ash
- EEadhadh, aspen
- AAilm, pine
- LLuis, rowan
- AAilm, pine
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Neala
Questions about Neala
- How do you pronounce Neala?
- Neala is pronounced NEE-la. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Neala a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Neala is a girl's name.
- How popular is Neala in Ireland?
- In 2025, Neala was No. 443 for girls in Ireland, with 8 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 2014, at No. 321.