Boy names that start with N
These 110 N boy names run from Nabil to Nyasha, each with its meaning and origin. The most popular in the US in 2025 were Noah, Nathan and Nolan.
Ning
Peace, tranquility (depends on characters) (Chinese)
UnisexChinese
Naftali
My struggle (Hebrew). No. 2,379 in the US in 2025, 58 babies.
BoyHebrew
Christmas (Latin). No. 478 in the US in 2025, 792 babies. Given to both: 20% girls.
UnisexEnglish
Neelam
Sapphire, from nila, dark blue (Sanskrit)
UnisexIndian
Nazario
From Nazareth (Latin). No. 4,492 in the US in 2025, 23 babies.
BoySpanish
Nando
Pet form of Fernando (Spanish)
BoySpanish
Nektarios
Nectar, drink of the gods (Greek)
BoyGreek
Nuh
Rest, comfort (Hebrew). No. 3,114 in the US in 2025, 39 babies.
BoyArabic
Nazzareno
From Nazareth (Latin)
BoyItalian
Nuri
The world, an old native Korean word (Korean). No. 2,189 in the US in 2025, 106 babies. Given to both: 80% girls.
UnisexKoreanRising
Most popular boy names starting with N in 2025
Ranked by the number of US babies given each name. Each spelling is counted on its own.
| US rank | Name | Babies | 10-year trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2 | Noah | 20,358 | Falling | rest, repose |
| #63 | Nathan | 4,975 | Falling | he gave |
| #65 | Nolan | 4,846 | Steady | from an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud |
| #112 | Nicholas | 3,115 | Falling | victory of the people |
| #140 | Nathaniel | 2,565 | Steady | God has given |
| #174 | Nico | 2,066 | Rising | victory of the people |
| #177 | Nicolas | 2,053 | Steady | victory of the people |
| #255 | Nash | 1,357 | Steady | from a surname meaning at the ash tree |
| #325 | Niko | 1,046 | Steady | – |
| #429 | Nehemiah | 743 | Steady | Yahweh comforts |
| #478 | Noel | 635 | Steady | Christmas |
| #487 | Nasir | 617 | Steady | helper, supporter |
| #605 | Nikolai | 469 | Steady | victory of the people |
| #632 | Nathanael | 442 | Steady | – |
| #719 | Nikolas | 375 | Steady | – |
| #723 | Neithan | 371 | Steady | – |
| #755 | Noe | 341 | Steady | rest, comfort |
| #825 | Nelson | 300 | Steady | – |
| #851 | Neil | 288 | Steady | – |
| #905 | Nael | 263 | Steady | – |
| #926 | Neythan | 255 | Steady | – |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 2025. Trend compares the rank with ten years earlier.
N names by the numbers
How many US babies get a name starting with N, counted from Social Security records of names given to at least 5 babies.
Boys
- Share of boys, 2025
- 3.4%
- Place among 26 letters
- 13th
- Different N names
- 468
- In the top 1,000
- 21
Share of boys with an N name: 0.8% in 1950, 3.9% in 2000, and 3.4% in 2025.
N boy names used in many cultures
Names our database lists in the most languages and countries, easy to spell and say in several of them.
- Noahrest, repose (Hebrew)
- Narcisonarcissus flower (Greek)
- Nathanhe gave (Hebrew)
- Nicovictory of the people (Greek)
- Noorlight, radiance (Arabic)
- Najmuddinstar of the faith (Arabic)
- Nasimbreeze (Arabic)
- Nielsvictory of the people (Greek)
- Niklasvictory of the people (Greek)
- Noérest, comfort (Hebrew)
- NoelChristmas (Latin)
- NoelChristmas (Latin)
- Nolanfrom an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud (Irish Gaelic)
- Norbertbright north (Germanic)
- Normannorth man (Germanic)
- Nurimy light (Arabic)
- Nabilnoble (Arabic)
- Nachmancomforter (Hebrew)
Where these names come from
- Hebrew: 22
- Greek: 22
- Arabic: 11
- Japanese: 11
- Sanskrit: 9
- Latin: 5
- Irish Gaelic: 4
- Igbo: 3
All 110 boy names that start with N
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nabil | noble | Arabic | Boy |
| Nachman | comforter | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nadav | generous | Hebrew | Boy |
| Naftali | my struggle | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nagi | calm sea, lull | Japanese | Unisex |
| Nagisa | beach, shore | Japanese | Unisex |
| Naguib | noble, distinguished | Arabic | Boy |
| Nahuel | jaguar | Mapudungun | Boy |
| Nahum | comfort | Hebrew | Boy |
| Najah | success | Arabic | Unisex |
| Najm | a star | Arabic | Boy |
| Najm ad-Din | star of the faith | Arabic | Boy |
| Najmuddin | star of the faith | Arabic | Boy |
| Nalu | wave, surf | Hawaiian | Unisex |
| Nando | pet form of Fernando | Spanish | Boy |
| Nanni | God is gracious | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nao | honest (depends on characters) | Japanese | Unisex |
| Naoise | meaning unknown | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Naoki | honest tree (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
| Naomhán | little saint | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Naoya | honest, straight (depends on kanji) | Japanese | Boy |
| Narciso | narcissus flower | Greek | Boy |
| Naresh | lord of men, a king | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Nash | from a surname meaning at the ash tree | Middle English | Boy |
| Nasim | breeze | Arabic | Unisex |
| Nasir | helper, supporter | Arabic | Boy |
| Natale | Christmas Day | Latin | Boy |
| Natan | he gave | Hebrew | Boy |
| Natanael | God has given | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nathan | he gave | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nathaniel | God has given | Hebrew | Boy |
| Natsuki | summer hope (depends on characters) | Japanese | Unisex |
| Navdeep | new lamp | Punjabi | Unisex |
| Naveen | new, fresh | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Navid | good news, glad tidings | Persian | Boy |
| Nazario | from Nazareth | Latin | Boy |
| Nazzareno | from Nazareth | Latin | Boy |
| Ndidi | patience | Igbo | Unisex |
| Ndubuisi | life is foremost | Igbo | Boy |
| Neacel | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Neel | dark blue | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Neelam | sapphire, from nila, dark blue | Sanskrit | Unisex |
| Neeraj | water-born, lotus | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Nehemiah | Yahweh comforts | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nehorai | light, illumination | Aramaic | Boy |
| Nehuén | force, strength | Mapudungun | Boy |
| Nektarios | nectar, drink of the gods | Greek | Boy |
| Neo | a gift | Tswana | Unisex |
| Neriah | lamp of God | Hebrew | Boy |
| Neriya | lamp of God | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nestor | homecomer | Greek | Boy |
| Neta | plant, sapling | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Netanel | God has given | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nezahualcóyotl | fasting coyote | Nahuatl | Boy |
| Nicanor | victorious man | Greek | Boy |
| Niccolò | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nicholas | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nico | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nicodemus | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nicolas | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nicolás | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nicolò | Italian form of Nicholas, victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Niels | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nikhil | whole, complete | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Nikiforos | bearing victory | Greek | Boy |
| Nikita | victor, winner | Greek | Boy |
| Niklas | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nikodem | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nikolai | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nikolaos | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nikos | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nilam | dark blue | Sanskrit | Unisex |
| Nils | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Ning | peace, tranquility (depends on characters) | Chinese | Unisex |
| Nioclás | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nir | plowed field | Hebrew | Boy |
| Niraj | water-born, lotus | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Nishith | midnight | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Nissim | miracles | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nitzan | bud | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Niven | little saint | Scottish Gaelic | Boy |
| Nkanyezi | a star | Zulu | Unisex |
| Nkosinathi | the king is with us | Zulu | Boy |
| Nnamdi | my father is alive | Igbo | Boy |
| Noah | rest, repose | Hebrew | Boy |
| Noam | pleasantness, delight | Hebrew | Boy |
| Noboru | to rise | Japanese | Boy |
| Nobunaga | trust and long | Japanese | Boy |
| Nobuo | faithful man (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
| Noé | rest, comfort | Hebrew | Boy |
| Noel | Christmas | Latin | Boy |
| Noel | Christmas | Latin | Unisex |
| Noël | Christmas | French | Boy |
| Nohea | handsome, lovely | Hawaiian | Unisex |
| Nolan | from an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Nollaig | Christmas | Irish Gaelic | Unisex |
| Noor | light, radiance | Arabic | Unisex |
| Norbert | bright north | Germanic | Boy |
| Norberto | bright north | Germanic | Boy |
| Norman | north man | Germanic | Boy |
| Noy | beauty | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Nozomi | hope, wish | Japanese | Unisex |
| Nozomu | to hope or wish | Japanese | Boy |
| Nthanda | a star | Tumbuka | Unisex |
| Nuh | rest, comfort | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nur ad-Din | light of the faith | Arabic | Boy |
| Nuri | the world, an old native Korean word | Korean | Unisex |
| Nuri | my light | Arabic | Boy |
| Nuru | light, brightness | Swahili | Unisex |
| Nyasha | grace, mercy | Shona | Unisex |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular boy names that start with N?
The most popular boy names starting with N in the US are Noah (#2), Nathan (#63), Nolan (#65), Nicholas (#112), Nathaniel (#140), according to US Social Security Administration data for 2025.
How many boy names start with N?
In 2025, 468 different boy names starting with N were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 21 of them were in the top 1,000. This page lists 110 with their meaning and origin.
How common are boy names that start with N?
3.4% of US boys born in 2025 have a name starting with N, making it the 13th most common first letter. In 1950 it was 0.8%.
Where do boy names starting with N come from?
The most common origins on this list are Hebrew (22), Greek (22), Arabic (11).