Nabi
Meaningbutterfly · Korean
Nabi is a Korean girl name meaning “butterfly”. Korean names are usually built from two syllables, each picked for the character it's written with. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- GenerationNabi is having its moment right now. Most Nabis are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Nabi would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 107,527 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryNabi first shows up in US birth records in 2008, the first year at least 5 babies got it. That makes it a fairly new name, younger than many of today's parents.
US births per million girls, 2021–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Nabi
Nabi is a girl name of Korean origin meaning “butterfly”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Korean names
Other spellings of Nabi
More Korean girl names
- Girl name: Mira · wonderful
- Girl name: Hanna · grace
- Girl name: Mina · depends on the hanja chosen
- Unisex name: Ari · lion
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Unisex name: Sol · sun
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Dana · graceful, refined
Questions about the name Nabi
What does the name Nabi mean?
Nabi means “butterfly” and comes from Korean. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Kamama (“butterfly”), Memengwaa (“butterfly”), Poli (“butterfly”) and Polingaysi (“possibly butterfly among flowers”).
What is the origin of the name Nabi?
Nabi is Korean in origin. Other Korean names to consider are Mira (“wonderful”), Hanna (“grace”), Mina (“depends on the hanja chosen”) and Ari (“lion”).
Is Nabi a boy or girl name?
Nabi is a girl name. In 2025, 15 US girls were named Nabi.
How popular is the name Nabi?
Nabi ranked #7,133 for US girls in 2025, given to 15 babies. Its best year was 2024, when it reached #4,893.
What names are similar to Nabi?
If you like Nabi, you might also like Nabih, Kamama, Memengwaa, Poli and Polingaysi. Nabih is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Nabi?
Nabi is a Korean girl name meaning “butterfly”. Korean names are usually built from two syllables, each picked for the character it's written with. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.