Nala

♀ Girl

Pronounced NAH-luh /ˈnɑː.lə/High

Meaning: From the Swahili and Zulu nala meaning 'successful' or 'beloved'; also shares roots with the Sanskrit nala (hollow reed), the name of a legendary Indian king; popularized globally by The Lion KingMedium

In 30 seconds: Nala is a bright African and Sanskrit name meaning successful or beloved. Made beloved worldwide by The Lion King, where Nala is the brave lioness and Simba's companion, the name has leapt onto American name charts.

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Origin MediumSwahili, Sanskrit, Zulu

MeaningFrom the Swahili and Zulu nala meaning 'successful' or 'beloved'; also shares roots with the Sanskrit nala (hollow reed), the name of a legendary Indian king; popularized globally by The Lion King

U.S. rank (2025)#856 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births317 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2019

Total births (all-time)≈ 6,132

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Nala has roots in both sub-Saharan African languages and Sanskrit. In Swahili and Zulu, nala means 'successful', 'beloved', or 'queen'. In Sanskrit, Nala is a legendary king in the Mahabharata, and the word means 'hollow reed'. The convergence of these roots across geographically distant cultures has given the name a rich, multi-threaded meaning.

Nala entered mainstream American usage dramatically after Disney's The Lion King (1994), in which Nala is the female lion who serves as Simba's childhood friend and eventual mate and queen. The animated film's massive cultural impact brought the name from obscurity to familiarity within a generation. In the 2010s and 2020s it entered U.S. top-500 charts as a girls name.

Did you know? In Disney's The Lion King (1994), Nala is the lioness who finds Simba in exile and urges him to return to Pride Rock and take his rightful place as king — making her one of the strongest female characters in Disney's animated canon.

Overall data confidence 83%

Behind the Name — Nala — Swahili/Zulu and Sanskrit etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

NallaNaala

Nicknames

Nal

Famous Bearers

★Nala (fictional) (fictional)
The lioness in Disney's The Lion King (1994) and its sequels, Simba's childhood friend who becomes Queen of Pride Rock.

If you like Nala…

Zuri— same African-origin two-syllable name meaning something bright and good

Anika— similar short African-influenced feminine name with a bright meaning

Raya— shares the two-syllable, global, film-character association

Shyla— another modern pick

Neela— shares the -la ending

Explore names like Nala

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Nala mean?

Nala means successful or beloved in Swahili and Zulu, and hollow reed in Sanskrit; it is associated with queenly strength.

How do you pronounce Nala?

It is said NAH-luh, with two syllables.

Is Nala from The Lion King?

Yes — Nala is the name of the brave lioness in Disney's The Lion King, which hugely boosted the name's popularity.

Is Nala a popular name?

Nala has grown significantly in the U.S. in the 2010s and 2020s, breaking into the top 500 girls names.