Nilo

♂ Boy

Pronounced NEE-loh /ˈni.loʊ/High

Meaning: From Latin Nilus, 'the Nile river'; also a short form of names like Danilo/Nilson, and linked to Neil, 'champion'Medium

In 30 seconds: The great river, in two smooth syllables: Nilo is Latin for the Nile — and a warm short form of Danilo. Sleek, melodic, and at home across Italy, Spain, and Brazil.

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Origin MediumLatin, Italian

MeaningFrom Latin Nilus, 'the Nile river'; also a short form of names like Danilo/Nilson, and linked to Neil, 'champion'

U.S. rank (2025)#3821 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births29 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 404

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

Nilo comes from Latin Nilus, 'the Nile river' (borne by an early saint, St. Nilus), and serves as a short form of Danilo and Nilson; it also brushes Neil, 'champion'. A smooth, melodic name across Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese cultures.

In the U.S. it appears in Latino and Italian families. Rare, river-rooted, and sleek.

Did you know? Nilo is the Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese name for the Nile — the world's longest river — so the name carries the flow of one of history's great waterways.

Overall data confidence 70%

Behind the Name — Nilo references — etymology

Variations

NilusDaniloNielo

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Nilo Cruz (1960-)
Cuban-American playwright who won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Anna in the Tropics (2003)

If you like Nilo…

Danilo— the fuller name it shortens

Milo— a fellow smooth -ilo name

Leo— a companion short bold name

Nico— another sleek -o favorite

Explore names like Nilo

By themelatin italian river

By meaningSea / Water

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Nilo mean?

Nilo is from Latin Nilus, 'the Nile river'; it's also a short form of Danilo and linked to Neil, 'champion'.

How do you pronounce Nilo?

It's said NEE-loh /ˈni.loʊ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Nilo a boy or girl name?

Nilo is a boy's name.

How popular is Nilo?

Nilo is a rare name in the U.S.