Nate
Nate is a given name, frequently used as a diminutive of Nathan, Nathanael or Nathaniel.
Meaning & Origin of Nate
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Nate is a given name, frequently used as a diminutive of Nathan, Nathanael or Nathaniel.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Nate
As a girl name
Nate first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1968, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1980, when 23 Nates were born — ranking #3,506 that year. As of 2026, Nate ranks #15,242 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 301 Nates have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Nate first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1880, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 181 Nates were born — ranking #1,038 that year. As of 2026, Nate ranks #1,497 for boys with 120 births, rising sharply (+31% over the past five years). In total, more than 5K Nates have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Nate
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nate 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 Nate
What does the name Nate mean?
How popular is Nate in 2026?
When was Nate most popular?
In which U.S. states is Nate most popular?
Is Nate a unisex name?
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About the name Nate
Nate is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 5K births in the dataset. Nate's peak popularity came in 2007 when it ranked #909. Use the chart and map above to compare Nate's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2007 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.