Sunil

♂ Boy

Pronounced soo-NEEL /suˈniːl/Medium

Meaning: Sunil is a common Indian given name from Sanskrit, joining su, 'very, good', to nila, 'blue, dark blue', so 'deep blue' or 'sapphire'; it entered American records with Indian immigrant families.Medium

In 30 seconds: Sunil is an Indian boy's name from Sanskrit, meaning 'dark blue' or 'sapphire' (said 'soo-NEEL').

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Origin MediumSanskrit

MeaningSunil is a common Indian given name from Sanskrit, joining su, 'very, good', to nila, 'blue, dark blue', so 'deep blue' or 'sapphire'; it entered American records with Indian immigrant families.

U.S. rank (2019)#11950 ↗ Rising

2019 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1979

Total births (all-time)≈ 989

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

Sunil is a widely used Indian name from Sanskrit, joining su, 'very' or 'good', to nila, 'blue' or 'dark blue', giving the sense of a deep sapphire blue. It reached American birth records through Indian immigrant families.

In the United States it has always been uncommon, appearing chiefly among Indian-American families and reaching a modest high around 1979. It reads here as a heritage Indian name rather than a mainstream American choice; in India it is thoroughly familiar.

Did you know? Sunil joins Sanskrit su, 'good', with nila, 'blue', for a deep-sapphire meaning; a well-known bearer is the Indian film star Sunil Dutt.

Overall data confidence 72%

References — Sunil — Sanskrit su + nila 'dark blue / sapphire'; Indian given name

Variations

Suneel

Nicknames

Sunny

Famous Bearers

★Sunil Dutt (1929–2005)
Celebrated Indian film actor and later a government minister, one of the best-known bearers of the name.

If you like Sunil…

Anil— a like Indian boys' name (Sanskrit 'air, wind') of the same heritage

Rajesh— a similar Indian given name carried by immigrant families

Sanjay— another common Indian boys' name of the same generation

Sharvil— shares Sunil's Sanskrit roots

Amil— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Sunil

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sunil mean?

Sunil is from Sanskrit su, 'good', and nila, 'blue', giving 'dark blue' or 'sapphire'.

How do you pronounce Sunil?

It's said soo-NEEL /suˈniːl/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Sunil a boy or girl name?

Sunil is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Sunil?

Sunil has always been uncommon in the U.S., seen mainly among Indian-American families, though it is common in India.