Dog Names > Nala

Nala

Female

Meaning

Beloved

Origin

African

Pronunciation

/ˈneɪlə/

EDITOR'S NOTE

Emily P.

PupNames.com Contributor

Nala rose to fame with Disney's The Lion King. In the movie, Nala establishes herself as a powerful ally to Simba, encouraging him to return to Pride Rock and helping the character to overthrow the movie's villain, Scar.

Nala's embodiment of the strong and nurturing role of women in families and relationships makes this a great name for girl dogs.

We've seen this name given to small and large dogs alike, and it's always a hit!

Traits associated with the name Nala:

Dogs named Nala tend to be loving, good-natured, brave, and strong-willed. This feminine name is also associated with companionship, and intelligence.

What does it say about you to have a dog named Nala?

Naming your dog Nala suggests that you are a fan of the Disney movie The Lion King. It could also suggest that you are a fan of strong female characters, as Nala is a brave and independent lioness.

Is Nala a good dog name?

Nala has two syllables, which is highly recommended by dog trainers. The name also ends in a vowel sound, so it's easy for dogs to recognize. Nala is a widely loved dog name for good reason. If you like it, go for it!

Popularity: Overall

New York City Dog Name Database

Los Angeles Times 'Top Dogs'

Nala is one of the more popular dog names out there. According to our data, Nala outranks the great majority of names.

Popularity: Historical Trend

Nala was, in the past month, the 9th most viewed dog name on PupNames.com.

As of May 2025, Nala is becoming ever more niche with new puppy owners. Our stats suggest that the name is less fashionable than it was at this time last year.

In general, this name has held steady in popularity with PupNames.com visitors.

In the past week, Nala was viewed 249 times, and liked 3 times.

Popularity: United States

The map below shows Nala's popularity across the United States, according to PupNames data.

Nala is most adored in New Hampshire, Florida and Georgia.

By contrast, the name has been shown the least amount of interest in Arkansas, New Mexico and Mississippi.

Popularity: Around The World

And this world map shows which countries have the greatest love for the name Nala.

Nala is found in these categories:

cute

Lion King's Simba's sweetheart, this moniker exudes playful charm and endearing innocence.

mythical

Derived from "The Lion King", the name is associated with a fictional, iconic character.

african

Derived from Swahili, meaning gift or beloved in African culture.

disney

She's Simba's lioness queen in the animated classic, Lion King.

Dog names like Nala:

Nellie

Light

Nessie

a large aquatic animal supposed to resemble a serpent or plesiosaur of Loch Ness in Scotland

Nettie

Gift of God.

Nikki

Victory Of The People

Nola

Fair Shoulder

Nadia

Hope

Comments (10)

🇺🇸

Alexis (Wisconsin, United States)

I really like the Name Nala
October 21, 2023

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Olga Borges (Florida, United States)

I love the name Nala that I gave my chihuahua, she is white, she is a loving dog, I love her with all my heart
June 27, 2023 ◆ Translated

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Florcita Aponte (La Libertad, Peru)

Personally, I love Nala, she is a mixture of love with strength... I adopted a German Shepherd puppy, she is wonderful and the name was perfect for her personality
April 27, 2023 ◆ Translated

🇬🇧

Nala (England, United Kingdom)

I am thinking of naming my to be border Terrier puppy nala, thanks for the idea!
February 14, 2023

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KBentleySmith (North Carolina, United States)

I adopted an Italian Greyhound/Whippet mix when she was 6 months old. Her names is Nala. Love her deeply. She is now 10 months old and loves to play chase, fetch, curl up next to you for puppy rubs and loving. She came from an abusive home from what we can tell. She was and is afraid of men. It took her 3 months to come out of her shell. She still does not trust most people. But with my husband and I she is wonderful.
December 24, 2022

🇲🇽

Nala (Michoacán, Mexico)

I have a dog named Nala, she is a female and she is black, I love her very much and she has a YouTube channel called Nala 🐶
November 02, 2022 ◆ Translated

🇵🇦

Rudi (Provincia de Chiriqui, Panama)

Have a female schnauzer 6 months old And named her Nala and she responds quickly.
October 13, 2022

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NALA (Leinster, Ireland)

It is sutch a cute name I love it
June 30, 2022

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Nala (Amman Governorate, Jordan)

It gives a personality
April 25, 2022

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RosaAcosta (Florida, United States)

It is a name that suits my dog Nala very well, she has all the characteristics I ❤ Nala
February 28, 2022 ◆ Translated

Let us know what you think of Nala as a dog name!