Nation
A nation is a type of social organization where a collective identity—a national identity—has emerged from a combination of shared features across a given population, such as language, history, ethnicity, culture, territory, or society. Some nations are constructed around ethnicity while others are bound by political constitutions.
Meaning & Origin of Nation
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
A nation is a type of social organization where a collective identity—a national identity—has emerged from a combination of shared features across a given population, such as language, history, ethnicity, culture, territory, or society. Some nations are constructed around ethnicity while others are bound by political constitutions.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Nation
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Nation as a girl name dates back to 2002, when 5 babies received it. 2022 was its biggest year on record, with 12 newborns named Nation — #8,535 in the national rankings. About 53% of every Nation on record arrived during the 2010s, its defining decade. Nation last appeared in the published SSA data in 2022, with 12 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 68 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 2000s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Nation as a boy name dates back to 1997, when 6 babies received it. 2021 was its biggest year on record, with 44 newborns named Nation — #2,818 in the national rankings. About 44% of every Nation on record arrived during the 2020s, its defining decade. As of 2026, Nation ranks #6,208 for boys with 14 births, falling sharply (-30%). All told, over 432 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1990s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Nation
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nation 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 Nation
What does the name Nation mean?
How popular is Nation in 2026?
When was Nation most popular?
In which U.S. states is Nation most popular?
Is Nation a unisex name?
What names go well with Nation?
About the name Nation
Nation is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1997 and has accumulated 432 births in the dataset. Nation's peak popularity came in 2021 when it ranked #2,818. Use the chart and map above to compare Nation's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2021 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- 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.