neela

Neela is a term used in several languages of the Indian subcontinent, most prominently as the word for blue in Hindi and Urdu, where it is written as نیلا in Urdu script. It traces to Sanskrit nyla- or nila meaning blue. As a transliterated given name, Neela is commonly used for women in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and among diaspora communities; it is often spelled Neela, Nila, Neele, or Nilaa, reflecting different transliteration conventions.

In cultural usage, blue carries varied associations such as calmness, depth, and the vastness of the sky and sea. In Hindu iconography, deities like Krishna and Vishnu are depicted with blue skin, a symbolic motif that can influence the aesthetic appeal of the name even though individuals named Neela are not linked to a specific mythic identity.

Beyond a given name, neela appears as an ordinary adjective meaning blue in literature and everyday speech, and it sometimes features in brand names or titles to evoke color associations. Related linguistic forms include nila, used in other Indian languages, and nilam, a Tamil word for sapphire or the blue gemstone, illustrating regional variations in color terminology.

See also: Nila; Nilam; Nil.