Niger
The Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest, Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest.
Meaning & Origin of Niger
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest, Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Niger
As a girl name
American parents first put Niger on the record books as a girl name in 1976, with 9 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1976, when 9 Nigers were born — ranking #6,048 that year. About 72% of every Niger on record arrived during the 1970s, its defining decade. Niger last appeared in the published SSA data in 1984, with 7 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 25 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.
As a boy name
Niger first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1994, with 6 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1994: 6 births, good for #7,770 nationwide. About 55% of every Niger on record arrived during the 1990s, its defining decade. Niger last appeared in the published SSA data in 2001, with 5 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 11 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1990s to the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Niger
Phonetically similar names — useful when Niger is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Nudger
- Nitr
- Nadger
- Neiger
- Nature
- Neither
- Natur
- Neige
- Gnasher
- Nigher
- Nosher
- Nij
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Niger
What does the name Niger mean?
How popular is Niger in 2026?
When was Niger most popular?
Is Niger a unisex name?
What names go well with Niger?
About the name Niger
Niger is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1976 and has accumulated 25 births in the dataset. Niger's peak popularity came in 1976 when it ranked #6,048. Use the chart and map above to compare Niger's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1976 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all girl 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.