Nene
Meaningoften peaceful · Japanese
Nene is a Japanese girl name often meaning “peaceful”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name.
Did you know?
- GenerationNene is having its moment right now. Most Nenes 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 Nene would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 178,571 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryNene first shows up in US birth records in 1994, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 31 years since.
US births per million girls, 1994–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Nene
Nene is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often peaceful”. Short and strong, it's said in a single beat and ends on an open, friendly vowel, so it pairs easily with a longer middle name. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades and is still gaining fans. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Nene
What does the name Nene mean?
Nene means “often peaceful” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Salma (“safe, peaceful”), Freddy (“peaceful ruler”), Freddie (“peaceful ruler”) and Nokuthula (“peaceful one”).
What is the origin of the name Nene?
Nene is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Nene a boy or girl name?
Nene is a girl name. In 2025, 9 US girls were named Nene.
How popular is the name Nene?
Nene ranked #10,107 for US girls in 2025, given to 9 babies. Its best year was 2024, when it reached #8,443. Over the last five years it has climbed 983 places.
What names are similar to Nene?
If you like Nene, you might also like Salma, Freddy, Freddie and Nokuthula.
What should I know before naming my baby Nene?
Nene is a Japanese girl name often meaning “peaceful”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. 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 short and punchy, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with a longer middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.