Assalamualikum, Please give me the details about name 'Nihal', can i use this name for my baby boy, and what about the meaning. Also I like the name Ilhan very much, but when i search the name on net, says its a Girl's name, only in this website i can see its a boy's name. please get me a clarification, I am from India. thank you

Alaikumassalam wa rahmatullah,

Nihal is an Arabic and Persian name for boys and girls that means "newly planted tree", "young tree", "young shoot of a tree". It is derived from the N-H26-L root which is not used anywhere in the Quran, for this reason it is not a Quranic name, but Muslims can use it since it has a good meaning. It is pronounced [(NI)p] + [(HA)nd + p(L)ay], it can also be pronounced [(NE)ck] + [(HA)nd + p(L)ay] and [(NU)mber] + [(HA)nd + p(L)ay]. It is written as نهال in Arabic and Farsi, and can also be written as Nehal, Neihal, Nehalle, Nahaal, Nihaal, Nehaal in English.

Ilhan can also be used for girls. I have updated the page to reflect this.