Boy · #3,408 in 2026

Nim

Nim is a mathematical combinatorial game in which two players take turns removing objects from distinct heaps or piles. On each turn, a player must remove at least one object, and may remove any number of objects provided they all come from the same heap or pile. Depending on the version being played, the goal of the game is either to avoid taking the last object or to take the last object.

Current Rank
#3,408
Peak Rank
#3,408 (1925)
Total Babies
28
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1885
First Year
1925
Last Year
1925
Peak Year
#3408
Peak Rank
28
Total Count
5
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Nim

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Nim is a mathematical combinatorial game in which two players take turns removing objects from distinct heaps or piles. On each turn, a player must remove at least one object, and may remove any number of objects provided they all come from the same heap or pile. Depending on the version being played, the goal of the game is either to avoid taking the last object or to take the last object.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Variants of nim have been played since ancient times. The game is said to have originated in China —it closely resembles the Chinese game of jiǎn-shízǐ ( 捡石子 ), or "picking stones"—but the origin is uncertain; the earliest European references to nim are from the beginning of the 16th century. Its current name was coined by Charles L. Bouton of Harvard University , who also developed the complete theory of the game in 1901, but the origins of the name were never fully explained. The Oxford English Dictionary derives the name from the German verb nimm , meaning "take". At the 1939 New York World

The Story of Nim

Nim first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1885, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1925, when 7 Nims were born — ranking #3,408 that year. As of 2026, Nim ranks #3,408 for baby boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 28 Nims have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

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 Nim

Phonetically similar names — useful when Nim 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 Nim

What does the name Nim mean?
Nim is a mathematical combinatorial game in which two players take turns removing objects from distinct heaps or piles. On each turn, a player must remove at least one object, and may remove any number of objects provided they all come from the same heap or pile. Depending on the version being played, the goal of the game is either to avoid taking the last object or to take the last object.
How popular is Nim in 2026?
In 2026, Nim ranks #3,408 among boys' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Nim most popular?
Nim reached its peak popularity in 1925, ranking #3,408 that year with 7 babies given the name.
Is Nim a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Nim is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Nim?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Nim include Hence, Twyman, Method. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Hence
Peak #3408
👦
Twyman
Peak #3408
👦
Method
Peak #3408
👦
Auguster
Peak #3408
👦
Ezelle
Peak #3408
👦
Emary
Peak #3408
👦
Haldor
Peak #3408
👦
Talma
Peak #3408

About the name Nim

Nim is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1885 and has accumulated 28 births in the dataset. Nim's peak popularity came in 1925 when it ranked #3,408. Use the chart and map above to compare Nim'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.