Meaning & Story
Niles is an English surname that may derive from the Greek name Nikolaos through Neil, meaning victory of the people, or from the River Nile, from the Ancient Greek Neilos, whose own etymology is uncertain but may derive from Semitic Nahal meaning river valley. As a pet name, Niles is most immediately recognizable from the character of Niles Crane, Frasier's even more refined brother in the TV series Frasier.
Niles is a name for a male companion with refined sensibilities and a manner so polished it occasionally makes the humans around him feel underdressed. The Frasier TV connection is immediate and perfect: the character of Niles Crane was the more cultured, more sensitive, and arguably more appealing of the two Crane brothers, which makes the name a wonderful fit for a companion whose aesthetic standards are genuinely intimidating. Whether your pet actually has refined tastes or simply looks like he does, Niles carries the appropriate weight of dignified expectations.