Neha Girl

Popularity: #926 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: NAY-hah //ˈneɪ.hɑː//

Origin: Sanskrit; Hindi

Meaning: Sanskrit: 'radiant'; Hindi: 'brightness'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Neha has its roots in the Sanskrit language, where it is derived from the word "neha," meaning "love" or "affection." This etymological origin highlights the name's association with warmth and emotional connection, reflecting the cultural values of love and familial bonds prevalent in many South Asian societies. The name has been used in various forms across different Indian languages, maintaining its core meaning while adapting to regional phonetics and script.

Historically, Neha has been a popular name in Indian culture, particularly among Hindu families. Its usage can be traced back to ancient texts and scriptures, where names often carried significant meanings related to virtues or desirable qualities.

While specific historical milestones for the name Neha may not be documented in the same way as names of biblical or royal figures, it has been embraced in literature and popular culture throughout the centuries, often symbolizing affection and tenderness in familial and romantic contexts. Culturally, the name Neha resonates with themes of love and compassion, making it a favored choice for many parents.

It embodies the values of nurturing and emotional support, which are highly regarded in various traditions. The name has also inspired diminutive forms, such as Neh, which are often used affectionately among family and friends.

Overall, Neha's enduring presence in Indian culture reflects its deep-rooted significance and the universal appeal of its meaning.

Famous people named Neha

In this section, you will find notable people named Neha. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Neha who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Neha who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Neha Dhupia is an actress and model best known for Hindi films such as Julie, Chup Chup Ke, and Singh is Kinng.

Neha Kakkar is a singer best known for songs like Kar Gayi Chull, Dilbar, and O Saki Saki.

Neha Sharma is an actress best known for films like Crook, Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum, and Tanhaji.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Neha, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

NishaNeelamNikitaNandiniNiranjana

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Neha. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

NiaNinaNayaNishaNikitaNanditaNerissaNimra

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Neha was first seen in the United States in 1969.

Neha has ranked as high as #1825 nationally, which occurred in 2004, and has been most popular in California, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Neha has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Neha is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Neha was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Neha.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 22 22
2024 21 21
2023 29 29
2022 20 20
2021 20 20
2020 23 23
2019 28 28
2018 36 36
2017 38 38
2016 38 38
2015 46 46
2014 67 67
2013 83 83
2012 90 90
2011 91 91
2010 111 111
2009 158 158
2008 143 143
2007 166 166
2006 173 173
2005 195 195
2004 223 223
2003 199 199
2002 215 215
2001 199 199
2000 219 219
1999 162 162
1998 124 124
1997 95 95
1996 88 88
1995 91 91
1994 92 92
1993 87 87
1992 73 73
1991 61 61
1990 68 68
1989 46 46
1988 60 60
1987 58 58
1986 70 70
1985 56 56
1984 43 43
1983 56 56
1982 50 50
1981 48 48
1980 36 36
1979 40 40
1978 33 33
1977 31 31
1976 31 31
1975 23 23
1974 21 21
1973 17 17
1972 18 18
1971 6 6
1970 5 5
1969 9 9

Top States for Neha (2023)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 6
55%
WA 5
45%