Nova
Nova is a unisex given name of Latin origin meaning "new".
- English
- Swedish
- Dutch
Meaning & Origin of Nova
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Nova is a unisex given name of Latin origin meaning "new".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
- Swedish
- Dutch
The Story of Nova
As a girl name
Nova first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1885, with 12 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2022: 5,920 births, good for #32 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 61% of all recorded Novas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #36 among girl names with 5,234 births, rising sharply (+21% over the past five years). In total, more than 62K Novas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
American parents first put Nova on the record books as a boy name in 1880, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2020, when 317 Novas were born — ranking #758 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 47% of all recorded Novas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,236 among boy names with 162 births, falling sharply (-23%). In total, more than 3K Novas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Nova
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Nova. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Nova
Phonetically similar names — useful when Nova 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 Nova
What does the name Nova mean?
What is the origin of the name Nova?
How popular is Nova in 2026?
When was Nova most popular?
In which U.S. states is Nova most popular?
Is Nova a unisex name?
What names go well with Nova?
What are nicknames or variants of Nova?
About the name Nova
Nova is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1885 and has accumulated 62K births in the dataset. Nova's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #32. Use the chart and map above to compare Nova's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2022 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- 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.