Nova
Nova was the 46th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 4,657 babies. Its best year was 2021, when it ranked 32nd; the most babies were born in 2022 (5,927). Over the last ten years it has moved up 167 places. More babies were named Nova in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Meaning new (Latin) · Latin
Say it NOH-vuh /ˈnoʊvə/
- Rank in 2025
- #46 girls, down 8 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 4,657girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20225,927 babies
- Total since 1880
- 59,010babies recorded
What does the name Nova mean?
Nova is the Latin word for 'new' (feminine form).
nova (Latin, “new (feminine)”)
How sure is this? Well established.
See also: Latin names.
Nova popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 3,227 since 1880, 149 in 2025.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #46 | 4,657 |
| 2020 | #38 | 5,006 |
| 2010 | #1,129 | 218 |
| 2000 | #2,362 | 66 |
| 1990 | #4,085 | 25 |
| 1980 | #1,716 | 66 |
| 1970 | #1,773 | 51 |
| 1960 | #1,970 | 34 |
| 1950 | #1,787 | 29 |
| 1940 | #1,094 | 44 |
| 1930 | #821 | 75 |
| 1920 | #693 | 111 |
| 1910 | #764 | 32 |
| 1900 | #670 | 29 |
| 1890 | #711 | 15 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Nova, counting every spelling?
Nova is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #49 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #46 for Nova on its own. Together these spellings went to 4,914 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova | 4,657 | #46 | 26,512 |
| Novah | 249 | #1,006 | 1,760 |
| Novaa | 8 | #11,651 | 57 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Nova?
4,657 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Nova (1.29 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Nova born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is about 1 in 41. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 2 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Nova.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Nova?
About 52,600 people born in the US named Nova are alive today, with a median age of 5; half are between 3 and 8. That makes Nova a young name: most people with it are children.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Nova by state
How common Nova was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Wyoming (3.2×), Delaware (2.7×), Mississippi (2.4×), Hawaii (2.2×), Alaska (2.2×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Massachusetts, California, New Jersey.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Nova: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nova, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Nova · Sibling names for Nova
Nova is also a nickname for Novalee.
Questions about the name Nova
What does Nova mean?
Nova means “new (Latin)” (Latin origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Nova?
Nova was the 46th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 4,657 babies. Its best year was 2021, when it ranked 32nd; the most babies were born in 2022 (5,927). Over the last ten years it has moved up 167 places. More babies were named Nova in the 2020s than in any other decade.
Is Nova a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Nova in the US.
Where is Nova most popular?
In 2021–2025, Nova was most common in Wyoming (10.32 per 1,000 girls), followed by Delaware and Mississippi.