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
Niger first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1976, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1976, when 9 Nigers were born — ranking #6,048 that year. As of 2026, Niger ranks #8,152 for girls with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 25 Nigers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through 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. Its peak popularity came in 1994, when 6 Nigers were born — ranking #7,770 that year. As of 2026, Niger ranks #10,556 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 11 Nigers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through 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.