Niall: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Niall is an Irish boy's name meaning “passionate, vehement.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Passionate, vehement
- Gender
- Boy
- English forms
- Neil, Neal
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 244 for boys (2025)
How do you pronounce Niall?
Niall is pronounced NYE-al. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first.
What does Niall mean?
The name could come from “passionate, vehement” or from nel “a cloud”. Niall of the Nine Hostages (read the legend) was a fourth-century king of Tara who gained the throne because of a test – he and his brothers had to enter the forest and find their own food and shelter. As time wore on they grew thirsty and approached a well guarded by a hideously ugly woman. Before she would allow them to have a drink she asked for a kiss. Only Niall agreed and when he had kissed her she was transformed into the most beautiful woman on earth and in turn she granted him sovereignty of Erin.
Niall in Irish legend
Niall was one of the great Irish kings. He was the only son of Eochaid Muighmedon, high king and his wife Catharann, daughter of an English king.
Read Legend of Nial of the Nine HostagesHow popular is Niall in Ireland?
In 2025, 19 baby boys in Ireland were named Niall, which made it No. 244 that year. That's down from No. 104 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 1991, when 440 baby boys were named Niall, No. 16 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 142 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | No. 244 |
| 2024 | 29 | No. 174 |
| 2023 | 21 | No. 219 |
| 2022 | 25 | No. 205 |
| 2021 | 38 | No. 151 |
| 2020 | 40 | No. 144 |
| 2019 | 32 | No. 174 |
| 2018 | 37 | No. 159 |
| 2017 | 46 | No. 134 |
| 2016 | 53 | No. 125 |
| 2015 | 69 | No. 104 |
| 2014 | 85 | No. 91 |
| 2013 | 87 | No. 88 |
| 2012 | 86 | No. 93 |
| 2011 | 91 | No. 86 |
| 2010 | 84 | No. 91 |
| 2009 | 113 | No. 69 |
| 2008 | 98 | No. 83 |
| 2007 | 99 | No. 76 |
| 2006 | 126 | No. 60 |
| 2005 | 147 | No. 53 |
| 2004 | 152 | No. 50 |
| 2003 | 128 | No. 54 |
| 2002 | 175 | No. 40 |
| 2001 | 179 | No. 41 |
| 2000 | 199 | No. 38 |
| 1999 | 197 | No. 36 |
| 1998 | 174 | No. 37 |
| 1997 | 254 | No. 35 |
| 1996 | 257 | No. 33 |
| 1995 | 290 | No. 28 |
| 1994 | 303 | No. 24 |
| 1993 | 342 | No. 19 |
| 1992 | 325 | No. 21 |
| 1991 | 440 | No. 16 |
| 1990 | 369 | No. 21 |
| 1989 | 310 | No. 26 |
| 1988 | 350 | No. 21 |
| 1987 | 327 | No. 30 |
| 1986 | 362 | No. 26 |
| 1985 | 346 | No. 26 |
| 1984 | 327 | No. 31 |
| 1983 | 379 | No. 27 |
| 1982 | 403 | No. 25 |
| 1981 | 410 | No. 24 |
| 1980 | 393 | No. 24 |
| 1979 | 373 | No. 25 |
| 1978 | 362 | No. 25 |
| 1977 | 370 | No. 23 |
| 1976 | 359 | No. 25 |
| 1975 | 368 | No. 26 |
| 1974 | 350 | No. 24 |
| 1973 | 319 | No. 28 |
| 1972 | 331 | No. 24 |
| 1971 | 265 | No. 35 |
| 1970 | 277 | No. 28 |
| 1969 | 252 | No. 32 |
| 1968 | 225 | No. 35 |
| 1967 | 184 | No. 40 |
| 1966 | 176 | No. 40 |
| 1965 | 184 | No. 39 |
| 1964 | 142 | No. 47 |
Niall 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 Niall, letter by letter.
- NNion, ash
- IIodhadh, yew
- AAilm, pine
- LLuis, rowan
- LLuis, rowan
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Niall
Questions about Niall
- How do you pronounce Niall?
- Niall is pronounced NYE-al. Two syllables, stress on the first. There's a short video above where you can hear it said.
- What does Niall mean?
- Niall means “passionate, vehement.”
- Is Niall a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Niall is a boy's name.
- What is Niall in English?
- The English forms of Niall are Neil and Neal.
- How popular is Niall in Ireland?
- In 2025, Niall was No. 244 for boys in Ireland, with 19 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1991, at No. 16.