Nala is a name that feels both powerful and regal. A lovely name with a long history, it's a great choice for a child. Read more to learn about this name.

Meaning of the name Nala:

Swahili: Queen
Arabic: Water in the desert
Sanskrit: Hollow reed

Origin of the name Nala:

Nala is a name with several potential origins. It may be derived from the Swahili word meaning “queen”, the Arabic word meaning “water in the desert”, or the Sanskrit word meaning “hollow reed”.

Symbolism of the name Nala:

Nala is a word with a great deal of symbolism, though the symbolism largely depends upon the culture of the family using the name. In most cases, the name tends to symbolize the importance of the child to her family.

Style of the name Nala:

Traditional

Gender of the name Nala:

Nala is a name that is unisex depending the culture from which it springs, but tends to be used only for baby girls in the United States.

Pronunciation of the name Nala:

nah-LA

Number of syllables in the name Nala:

2

Emotion evoked from the name Nala:

Nala tends to evoke respectful and positive emotions.

Alternative spellings for the name Nala:

Nicknames for the name Nala:

  • La-la
  • Nah
  • Na-na

Popularity of the name Nala:

According to the Social Security Administration, Nala last ranked on the list of the most popular baby names in the United States in 2021 as the 739th most popular baby name for girls. The name peaked in popularity in 2018 as the 744th most popular name for baby girls.

Related names for the name Nala:

Great middle names for Nala and their meanings:

Famous people with the name Nala:

  • Nala Damajanti (French entertainer)

Nalas in popular culture:

  • Nala (character from The Lion King)
  • Nala Se (character from Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
  • Nala (character in The Ramayana)