Nakul is of Sanskrit origin, meaning "cloud" or "sky". It is a unisex given name that has been used historically among Indian communities, particularly Hindus and Buddhists. The name Nakul appears in the Hindu epic Mahabharata as one of the five Pandava brothers, son of Madri and twin brother to Sahadeva. This association with ancient mythology contributes to its rich cultural heritage. Pronounced as "NAH-kool", it consists of three syllables, beginning with a consonant followed by two vowels, giving it a melodic rhythm when spoken aloud.
Nakul experienced a peak in popularity from the late '80s to the early '90s with consistent birth counts ranging from 5 to 10 babies per year. However, after 1997, the name's popularity seemed to wane, with birth counts fluctuating between 5 and 13 until 2014. Since then, Nakul has maintained a steady presence with around 6-9 births annually up until 2023, indicating a consistent but relatively low level of popularity for the name in recent years.