Baby Name Popularity Profile

Nova

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Nova.

✦ New 🌍 Latin modern
National Rank (2025) #46
All-Time Peak Rank #32 Achieved 2021
Total U.S. Births 55,783 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 5.5% Boy / 94.5% Girl Overwhelmingly Female
First Recorded 1885 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2020s 5,927 births in 2022
💡 The Nova Vibe: Considered a Modern Trend. A contemporary choice reflecting current cultural naming rhythms and popularity brackets.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning New
Language Origin Latin
Origin Type single
Derived from the Latin word 'novus' meaning 'new'.
Pronunciation: NO-vuh
Themes & Categories
modern
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Nova

According to SSA data, Nova achieved its highest historical rank of #32 in 2021. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2022 with 5,927 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 204.6%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 141 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Nova across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift +204.6% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 5,927 births in 2022
Years in Top 100 9 yrs
Years in Top 500 12 yrs
Registry Streak 141 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 52
1890s: 187
1900s: 279
1910s: 629
1920s: 891
1930s: 657
1940s: 369
1950s: 283
1960s: 402
1970s: 589
1980s: 360
1990s: 289
2000s: 1,221
2010s: 18,057
2020s: 31,518

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables No-va
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with N, a letter used by only 3.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Nova.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Nevada
Top States Nevada, Delaware, Florida, Alaska, Oklahoma
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Nevada #29 524 2022 21.3% Decline
Delaware #16 187 2019 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #39 2,933 2021 +11.1% Growth
Alaska #34 119 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #19 1,146 2022 Stable
Georgia #19 2,303 2022 13.5% Decline
North Carolina #29 2,270 2022 21.0% Decline
Arizona #49 944 2021 +23.8% Growth
Utah #53 627 2022 +13.6% Growth
Idaho #45 293 2022 +12.9% Growth
Tennessee #29 1,523 2022 +5.7% Growth
Arkansas #18 772 2021 +26.5% Growth
Colorado #66 811 2023 Stable
South Carolina #22 960 2023 14.2% Decline
Indiana #29 1,541 2022 20.9% Decline
Missouri #23 1,442 2021 7.5% Decline
Wyoming Unranked 87 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #44 575 2022 +20.5% Growth
Washington #65 1,014 2022 Stable
Kentucky #30 1,079 2021 15.7% Decline
Maryland #40 915 2022 13.0% Decline
Texas #61 4,562 2022 3.3% Decline
Hawaii #21 170 2020 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #19 978 2023 +13.8% Growth
Ohio #28 2,444 2021 4.0% Decline
Virginia #54 1,188 2022 20.5% Decline
South Dakota #24 172 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #12 901 2021 2.8% Decline
Wisconsin #35 968 2024 +27.1% Growth
Mississippi #9 608 2022 +3.2% Growth
Kansas #61 505 2021 10.6% Decline
Michigan #32 1,799 2022 15.7% Decline
Montana #28 143 2021 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire #80 145 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #30 600 2023 +1.8% Growth
North Dakota #86 153 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #55 321 2023 Insufficient historical volume
California #93 4,299 2022 17.9% Decline
New Mexico #32 229 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #82 768 2022 +1.7% Growth
Maine #70 177 2021 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #25 370 2021 12.5% Decline
Connecticut #60 431 2021 +2.4% Growth
Pennsylvania #40 2,050 2022 20.8% Decline
Illinois #57 1,661 2023 14.0% Decline
New Jersey #69 894 2021 +11.0% Growth
Rhode Island #141 104 2019 Insufficient historical volume
New York #80 2,166 2023 27.7% Decline
Vermont Unranked 48 2022 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia #41 104 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #141 567 2022 33.3% Decline

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Liam Levi Luca Ezra Enzo Axel Theo Luka Amir Milo
👧 Sister Suggestions
Lucy Luna Isla Iris Eden Ayla Lyla Remi Ellie Ivy

🔗 Names You Might Also Like

Based on statistical similarity and shared characteristics with Nova:

Demographic & Volume Peers
Nora Nyla Naya Nola Nyra Naia Nila Nava Nara Nuha
More modern Names
Browse all modern names → Browse Latin names →

🗂️ Browse More Baby Names

Explore our name indexes and data tracks:

👧 Top Girl Names → 2-Syllable Names → 4-Letter Names → More Modern Trend Names → Latin Origin Names → modern Names → Names Peaking in 2022 → 🗺️ Regional State Data →