Nilmar is a unique and exotic male given name of Brazilian origin. It was coined by the renowned Brazilian author Paulo Coelho in his popular novel "The Witching Hour". In the novel, Nilmar is a character who is born on Halloween night during a full moon eclipse.
The name Nilmar is derived from two elements: 'Nil' which means 'value' or 'worth' in Sanskrit, and 'Mar', which means 'sea' in Portuguese. Therefore, the meaning of Nilmar is believed to be "the value of the sea". However, Paulo Coelho has not explicitly confirmed this interpretation.
Despite its recent creation by a literary character, Nilmar has gained some popularity as a given name in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries. It is considered an original and creative choice for parents looking for a unique name for their child.
In terms of history, there are no notable figures with the name Nilmar outside of Paulo Coelho's novel. Therefore, the name does not have any specific historical or cultural significance beyond its literary origins. Nevertheless, Nilmar remains a distinctive and captivating name that continues to appeal to parents seeking something different for their child.
The name Nilmar has seen a steady increase in popularity in the United States over the past few years, with a total of 36 newborns bearing this unique moniker between 2009 and 2011. In 2009, there were only five babies named Nilmar, but this number nearly quadrupled to nineteen in just one year, indicating that many parents must have taken a liking to this distinctive name during that time. The trend continued into 2011 with twelve more newborns being given the name Nilmar. While still not among the most common names in the U.S., these statistics suggest that Nilmar is slowly but surely carving out its own niche as an appealing choice for parents seeking something less ordinary for their children.