Nova
Meaningnew · Latin
- US rank
- #46
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #32 in 2022
4,657 babies were named Nova in the US in 2025. It has dropped 8 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1885–2025
US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Nova you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 345 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Nova, 4,657 babies in all. In a school of 500 kids, there'd probably be one other Nova.
- HistoryNova has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Novas, and counting.
- Best yearIts best year was 2022, when it reached #32.
- Then vs nowNova is 80× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 27,548 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 345.
- Where it's lovedNova is most popular in Mississippi, where it ranks #9, followed by Louisiana (#12) and Delaware (#14). It makes the top 1,000 in almost every state.
- MeaningIn Latin, Nova means “new”.
About the name Nova
Nova is a girl name of Latin origin meaning “new”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with N and ending in “-ova”. US birth records list Nova for girls from 1885 to 2025, in 141 of those 141 years. Its best year was 2022, when it ranked #32 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #46, with 4,657 babies.
Origin:Latin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 66 | 15,106 girls |
| 1890s | 83 | 12,031 girls |
| 1900s | 94 | 10,602 girls |
| 1910s | 79 | 12,637 girls |
| 1920s | 75 | 13,394 girls |
| 1930s | 62 | 16,228 girls |
| 1940s | 26 | 38,491 girls |
| 1950s | 15 | 67,568 girls |
| 1960s | 22 | 45,475 girls |
| 1970s | 38 | 26,110 girls |
| 1980s | 21 | 47,125 girls |
| 1990s | 16 | 61,843 girls |
| 2000s | 66 | 15,179 girls |
| 2010s | 1,046 | 956 girls |
| 2020s | 3,238 | 309 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 4.5 | 220,751 boys |
| 1910s | 6.4 | 156,740 boys |
| 1920s | 5.6 | 179,856 boys |
| 1930s | 2.3 | 429,185 boys |
| 1940s | 1.6 | 632,911 boys |
| 1950s | 0.3 | 3,571,429 boys |
| 1970s | 1.4 | 719,424 boys |
| 1980s | 1.0 | 1,030,928 boys |
| 1990s | 2.0 | 495,050 boys |
| 2000s | 11 | 94,340 boys |
| 2010s | 73 | 13,774 boys |
| 2020s | 138 | 7,272 boys |
More Latin girl names
- Girl name: Olivia · olive tree
- Girl name: Amelia · work, industrious
- Girl name: Mia · possibly beloved
- Girl name: Evelyn · possibly desired
- Girl name: Ava · possibly bird, or life
- Girl name: Violet · violet flower
- Girl name: Aurora · dawn
- Girl name: Lily · lily flower
Questions about the name Nova
What does the name Nova mean?
Nova means “new” in Latin.
What is the origin of the name Nova?
Nova has Latin roots in our records. Other Latin names include Olivia, Amelia, Mia.
Is Nova a boy or girl name?
Nova is a girl name, though a few boys get it too.
How popular is the name Nova?
Nova ranked #46 for US girls in 2025, given to 4,657 babies. Its best year was 2022 (#32).