Nilla is of Scandinavian origin, meaning 'resembling a nymph'. It gained popularity in Finland during the early 20th century and remains widely used there today. The name Nilla was famously carried by Finnish writer and journalist Nelli Frosterus, often credited with popularizing the name's usage. Interestingly, Nilla is also the name of a type of small, spicy bun popular in Sweden, adding a culinary touch to this unique moniker. In languages other than Finnish, such as Swedish and Norwegian, Nilla is often associated with its diminutive form 'Nille', which further adds to its charm and versatility.
The name Nilla has seen fluctuations in popularity over the decades with a total of 26 babies named Nilla born between 1924 and 2019. While there were periods of higher birth rates such as 6 births in 1970, the name's usage has generally maintained consistency with an average of about 5 births per peak year.