Unisex · #7,538 in 2026

Nana

Current Rank
#7,538
Peak Rank
#582 (2000)
Total Babies
3K
5-Yr Trend
-19%
👧 Girl peak #582 (3K total)
👦 Boy peak #3,044 (873 total)
👧As Girl Name
1881
First Year
2026
Last Year
2000
Peak Year
#582
Peak Rank
3K
Total Count
142
Years Active
👦As Boy Name
1972
First Year
2026
Last Year
2014
Peak Year
#3044
Peak Rank
873
Total Count
51
Years Active

The Story of Nana

As a girl name

Nana first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1881, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2000, when 47 Nanas were born — ranking #2,974 that year. As of 2026, Nana ranks #7,538 for girls with 14 births, falling sharply (-19%). In total, more than 3K Nanas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Nana first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1972, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2014, when 32 Nanas were born — ranking #3,370 that year. As of 2026, Nana ranks #6,923 for boys with 11 births, falling sharply (-33%). In total, more than 873 Nanas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Nana

Phonetically similar names — useful when Nana is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Nana

What does the name Nana mean?
Nana is a girl's name that has been used in U.S. records since 1881. Behind the Name doesn't list a specific etymology, but the name has remained in use across multiple decades.
How popular is Nana in 2026?
In 2026, Nana ranks #7,538 among girls' names in the U.S., with 14 babies given the name that year.
When was Nana most popular?
Nana reached its peak popularity in 2000, ranking #582 that year with 47 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Nana most popular?
Nana has historically been most popular in Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Nana.
Is Nana a unisex name?
Yes — Nana is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 74% of Nanas assigned female and 26% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Nana?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Nana include Honora, Elvie, Mercy. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Nana

Nana is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1881 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Nana's peak popularity came in 2000 when it ranked #582. Use the chart and map above to compare Nana's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.