Names that start with N
These 253 N names run from Na to Nyx, each with its meaning and origin. The most popular in the US in 2025 were Noah, Nora and Nathan.
Neriah
Lamp of God (Hebrew). No. 7,072 in the US in 2025, 12 babies.
BoyHebrew
Naamah
Pleasant (Hebrew). No. 14,392 in the US in 2025, 6 babies.
GirlEnglish
Nunzia
Announced (Italian)
GirlItalian
Navdeep
New lamp (Punjabi)
UnisexIndian
Nur
Light, radiance (Arabic). No. 4,247 in the US in 2025, 34 babies. Given to both: 68% girls.
GirlTurkish
Nicanor
Victorious man (Greek)
BoySpanish
Norbert
Bright north (Germanic)
BoyGerman
Nastaran
Dog rose (Persian)
GirlPersian
Ntombi
Girl (Zulu)
GirlAfrican
Neus
Snows (Latin)
GirlSpanish
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Most popular 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 | For | 10-year trend | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #2 | Noah | 20,358 | Boys | Falling | rest, repose |
| #20 | Nora | 6,380 | Girls | Rising | honor |
| #63 | Nathan | 4,975 | Boys | Falling | he gave |
| #65 | Nolan | 4,846 | Boys | Steady | from an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud |
| #46 | Nova | 4,657 | Girls | Rising | new, a new star |
| #47 | Naomi | 4,644 | Girls | Steady | pleasantness, sweetness |
| #112 | Nicholas | 3,115 | Boys | Falling | victory of the people |
| #89 | Natalie | 2,736 | Girls | Falling | birthday; Christmas Day |
| #140 | Nathaniel | 2,565 | Boys | Steady | God has given |
| #174 | Nico | 2,066 | Boys | Rising | victory of the people |
| #177 | Nicolas | 2,053 | Boys | Steady | victory of the people |
| #144 | Natalia | 2,028 | Girls | Steady | born on Christmas day |
| #165 | Nevaeh | 1,828 | Girls | Falling | heaven spelled backward |
| #202 | Noelle | 1,507 | Girls | Steady | Christmas |
| #255 | Nash | 1,357 | Boys | Steady | from a surname meaning at the ash tree |
| #226 | Noa | 1,348 | Girls | Rising | movement, motion |
| #236 | Nyla | 1,315 | Girls | Steady | probably a feminine form of Niles |
| #262 | Norah | 1,191 | Girls | Falling | variant of Nora, short form of Honora or Eleanor |
| #271 | Nayeli | 1,151 | Girls | Rising | possibly from Zapotec words meaning I love you or open |
| #325 | Niko | 1,046 | Boys | Steady | – |
| #324 | Nina | 946 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #327 | Navy | 935 | Girls | Steady | – |
| #383 | Nicole | 803 | Girls | Falling | victory of the people |
| #414 | Nalani | 754 | Girls | Rising | the heavens |
| #429 | Nehemiah | 743 | Boys | Steady | Yahweh comforts |
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.
Girls
- Share of girls, 2025
- 3.5%
- Place among 26 letters
- 10th
- Different N names
- 784
- In the top 1,000
- 31
Share of girls with an N name: 2.6% in 1950, 2.5% in 2000, and 3.5% in 2025.
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 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)
- Nadiahope (Slavic)
- Nicolevictory of the people (Greek)
- Nataliaborn on Christmas day (Latin)
- Nadinehope (Russian)
- Narcisonarcissus flower (Greek)
- Nathanhe gave (Hebrew)
- Nicovictory of the people (Greek)
- Noamovement, motion (Hebrew)
- Noorlight, radiance (Arabic)
- Najmuddinstar of the faith (Arabic)
- Naomipleasantness, sweetness (Hebrew)
- Nasimbreeze (Arabic)
- Nasrinwild rose (Persian)
- Nataliebirthday; Christmas Day (Latin)
- Natashaborn on Christmas Day (Latin)
- Nayelipossibly from Zapotec words meaning I love you or open (Zapotec)
- Nessiepure, chaste (Greek)
Where these names come from
- Hebrew: 38
- Greek: 36
- Arabic: 26
- Japanese: 21
- Latin: 21
- Persian: 14
- Sanskrit: 14
- Irish Gaelic: 11
All 253 names that start with N
| Name | Meaning | Origin | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| Na | elegant, graceful (depends on characters) | Chinese | Girl |
| Naamah | pleasant | Hebrew | Girl |
| Nabi | butterfly | Korean | Girl |
| Nabil | noble | Arabic | Boy |
| Nabila | noble, distinguished | Arabic | Girl |
| Nacha | pet form of Ignacia | Spanish | Girl |
| Nachman | comforter | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nada | dew, generosity | Arabic | Girl |
| Nadav | generous | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nadeshiko | fringed pink flower | Japanese | Girl |
| Nadezhda | hope, a Christian virtue | Slavic | Girl |
| Nadia | hope | Slavic | Girl |
| Nadine | hope | Russian | Girl |
| Nadira | rare, precious | Arabic | Girl |
| Nadzieja | hope | Polish | Girl |
| Naftali | my struggle | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nagi | calm sea, lull | Japanese | Unisex |
| Nagisa | beach, shore | Japanese | Unisex |
| Nagla | wide-eyed | Arabic | Girl |
| Naguib | noble, distinguished | Arabic | Boy |
| Nagwa | confidential talk, whisper | Arabic | Girl |
| Nahia | desire, wish | Basque | Girl |
| Nahid | the planet Venus | Persian | Girl |
| Nahla | a drink of water | Arabic | Girl |
| Nahuel | jaguar | Mapudungun | Boy |
| Nahum | comfort | Hebrew | Boy |
| Naia | wave, sea foam | Basque | Girl |
| Naima | comfort, tranquility | Arabic | Girl |
| Naira | eye, early | Aymara | Girl |
| Najah | success | Arabic | Unisex |
| Najm | a star | Arabic | Boy |
| Najm ad-Din | star of the faith | Arabic | Boy |
| Najma | star | Arabic | Girl |
| Najmuddin | star of the faith | Arabic | Boy |
| Najwa | secret, whisper or confidential talk | Arabic | Girl |
| Nakato | second-born of twin girls | Luganda | Girl |
| Nakshatra | star, lunar mansion | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Nālani | the heavens | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Naledi | star | Sotho | Girl |
| Nalini | lotus | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Nalu | wave, surf | Hawaiian | Unisex |
| Nami | wave, written 波 | Japanese | Girl |
| Nana | seven | Japanese | Girl |
| Nanami | seven seas (depends on characters) | Japanese | Girl |
| Nancy | favor, grace | Hebrew | Girl |
| Nandi | sweet, pleasant | Zulu | Girl |
| Nando | pet form of Fernando | Spanish | Boy |
| Nani | beauty, beautiful | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Nanni | God is gracious | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nannie | grace | Hebrew | Girl |
| Nao | honest (depends on characters) | Japanese | Unisex |
| Naoise | meaning unknown | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Naoki | honest tree (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
| Naoko | honest child (depends on characters) | Japanese | Girl |
| Naomh | holy | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Naomhán | little saint | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Naomi | pleasantness, sweetness | Hebrew | Girl |
| Naoya | honest, straight (depends on kanji) | Japanese | Boy |
| Nāpua | the flowers | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Narae | wings, a native Korean word | Korean | Girl |
| Narciso | narcissus flower | Greek | Boy |
| Naresh | lord of men, a king | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Narges | narcissus flower | Persian | Girl |
| Nargis | narcissus | Persian | Girl |
| Nari | lily, a native Korean word | Korean | Girl |
| Nash | from a surname meaning at the ash tree | Middle English | Boy |
| Nashwa | elation | Arabic | Girl |
| Nasim | breeze | Arabic | Unisex |
| Nasir | helper, supporter | Arabic | Boy |
| Nasrin | wild rose | Persian | Girl |
| Nastaran | dog rose | Persian | Girl |
| Nastasya | resurrection, a folk form of Anastasia | Greek | Girl |
| Nastya | short form of Anastasia, resurrection | Greek | Girl |
| Natale | Christmas Day | Latin | Boy |
| Natalia | born on Christmas day | Latin | Unisex |
| Natalie | birthday; Christmas Day | Latin | Girl |
| Natalya | born on Christmas Day | Latin | Girl |
| Natan | he gave | Hebrew | Boy |
| Natanael | God has given | Hebrew | Boy |
| Natasha | born on Christmas Day | Latin | Girl |
| Nathália | Christmas Day | Latin | Girl |
| Nathalie | born on Christmas day | Latin | Girl |
| Nathan | he gave | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nathaniel | God has given | Hebrew | Boy |
| Natividad | nativity | Latin | Girl |
| Natsuki | summer hope (depends on characters) | Japanese | Unisex |
| Natsumi | summer beauty | Japanese | Girl |
| Nava | beautiful | Hebrew | Girl |
| Navdeep | new lamp | Punjabi | Unisex |
| Naveen | new, fresh | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Navid | good news, glad tidings | Persian | Boy |
| Navya | new, fresh | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Nawal | gift or present | Arabic | Girl |
| Nayeli | possibly from Zapotec words meaning I love you or open | Zapotec | Girl |
| Nayeon | graceful and beautiful (depends on hanja) | Korean | Girl |
| Nazanin | delicate, charming | Persian | Girl |
| Nazario | from Nazareth | Latin | Boy |
| Nazlı | coy, delicate | Persian | Girl |
| Nazzareno | from Nazareth | Latin | Boy |
| Ndidi | patience | Igbo | Unisex |
| Ndubuisi | life is foremost | Igbo | Boy |
| Neacel | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nechama | comfort, consolation | Hebrew | Girl |
| Neda | call, proclamation | Arabic | Girl |
| Neel | dark blue | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Neelam | sapphire, from nila, dark blue | Sanskrit | Unisex |
| Neema | grace, blessing | Swahili | Girl |
| Neeraj | water-born, lotus | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Negar | beloved, sweetheart | Persian | Girl |
| Negin | gemstone | Persian | Girl |
| Nehemiah | Yahweh comforts | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nehir | river | Turkish | Girl |
| Nehorai | light, illumination | Aramaic | Boy |
| Nehuén | force, strength | Mapudungun | Boy |
| Nekane | sorrows | Basque | Girl |
| Nektaria | nectar | Greek | Girl |
| Nektarios | nectar, drink of the gods | Greek | Boy |
| Nene | peaceful | Japanese | Girl |
| Neo | a gift | Tswana | Unisex |
| Nereida | sea nymph | Greek | Girl |
| Neriah | lamp of God | Hebrew | Boy |
| Neriya | lamp of God | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nermin | soft, gentle | Persian | Girl |
| Neşe | joy, happiness | Turkish | Girl |
| Nessie | pure, chaste | Greek | Girl |
| Nesta | medieval Welsh pet form of Agnes | Greek | Girl |
| Nestor | homecomer | Greek | Boy |
| Neta | plant, sapling | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Netanel | God has given | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nettie | grace | Hebrew | Girl |
| Neus | snows | Latin | Girl |
| Nevada | snow-covered | Spanish | Girl |
| Nevaeh | heaven spelled backward | English | Girl |
| Neve | bright, radiant | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Nezahualcóyotl | fasting coyote | Nahuatl | Boy |
| Ngozi | a blessing | Igbo | Girl |
| Nia | bright, radiant | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Niamh | bright, radiant | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Nicanor | victorious man | Greek | Boy |
| Niccolò | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nicholas | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nicky | victory of the people | Greek | Girl |
| Nico | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nicodemus | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nicolas | victory of the people | Greek | Unisex |
| Nicole | victory of the people | Greek | Girl |
| Nicoletta | victory of the people | Greek | Girl |
| Nicolette | victory of the people | Greek | Girl |
| Nicolò | Italian form of Nicholas, victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nicté | flower, plumeria | Yucatec Maya | Girl |
| Niels | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nieves | snows | Latin | Girl |
| Nika | victory | Greek | Girl |
| Nike | victory | Greek | Girl |
| Nikhil | whole, complete | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Niki | victory, triumph | Greek | Girl |
| Nikiforos | bearing victory | Greek | Boy |
| Nikita | victor, winner | Greek | Boy |
| Niklas | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nikodem | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Nikola | victory of the people | Greek | Girl |
| 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 |
| Nilay | Nile moon | Turkish | Girl |
| Niloufar | water lily | Persian | Girl |
| Nils | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Ninel | Lenin spelled backward | Russian | Girl |
| Ning | peace, tranquility (depends on characters) | Chinese | Unisex |
| Ninon | diminutive of Anne, favor or grace | Hebrew | Girl |
| Nioclás | victory of the people | Greek | Boy |
| Niousha | good listener | Persian | Girl |
| Nir | plowed field | Hebrew | Boy |
| Niraj | water-born, lotus | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Nisa | women | Arabic | Girl |
| Nisha | the night | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Nishith | midnight | Sanskrit | Boy |
| Nissim | miracles | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nitya | eternal, always | Sanskrit | Girl |
| Nitzan | bud | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Niven | little saint | Scottish Gaelic | Boy |
| Nives | snows | Latin | Girl |
| Nkanyezi | a star | Zulu | Unisex |
| Nkechi | God's own | Igbo | Girl |
| Nkiruka | what lies ahead is greater | Igbo | Girl |
| Nkosinathi | the king is with us | Zulu | Boy |
| Nnamdi | my father is alive | Igbo | Boy |
| Nneka | mother is supreme | Igbo | Girl |
| Nnenna | father's mother | Igbo | Girl |
| Noa | movement, motion | Hebrew | Girl |
| Noah | rest, repose | Hebrew | Boy |
| Noam | pleasantness, delight | Hebrew | Boy |
| Noboru | to rise | Japanese | Boy |
| Nobuko | faithful child | Japanese | Girl |
| Nobunaga | trust and long | Japanese | Boy |
| Nobuo | faithful man (depends on characters) | Japanese | Boy |
| Nodoka | calm, peaceful | Japanese | Girl |
| Noé | rest, comfort | Hebrew | Boy |
| Noel | Christmas | Latin | Unisex |
| Noelani | heavenly mist | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Noelia | Christmas | Latin | Girl |
| Noelle | Christmas | French | Girl |
| Noemi | pleasantness, sweetness | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Noêmia | pleasantness | Hebrew | Girl |
| Noémie | pleasantness, sweetness | Hebrew | Girl |
| Noeul | sunset glow, a native Korean word | Korean | Girl |
| Noga | brightness; the planet Venus | Hebrew | Girl |
| Noha | mind, wisdom | Arabic | Girl |
| Nohea | handsome, lovely | Hawaiian | Unisex |
| Nohealani | lovely one of the heavens | Hawaiian | Girl |
| Nóinín | daisy | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Nóirín | honor | Latin | Girl |
| Nokuthula | peace, calm | Zulu | Girl |
| Nolan | from an Irish surname derived from nuall, famous, loud | Irish Gaelic | Boy |
| Nollaig | Christmas | Irish Gaelic | Unisex |
| Nolwenn | holy one from Noyal | Breton | Girl |
| Nomvula | mother of rain | Zulu | Girl |
| Nona | ninth | Latin | Girl |
| Nonhlanhla | luck, good fortune | Zulu | Girl |
| Noor | light, radiance | Arabic | Unisex |
| Nooshin | sweet, pleasant | Persian | Girl |
| Nóra | honor | Latin | Girl |
| Norah | variant of Nora, short form of Honora or Eleanor | Latin | Girl |
| Norbert | bright north | Germanic | Boy |
| Norberto | bright north | Germanic | Boy |
| Noreen | honor | Latin | Girl |
| Noriko | child of rules or ceremony (depends on characters) | Japanese | Girl |
| Norman | north man | Germanic | Boy |
| Nosipho | a gift, with the feminine prefix no- | Zulu | Girl |
| Nova | new, a new star | Latin | Girl |
| Noy | beauty | Hebrew | Unisex |
| Noya | beauty, ornament | Hebrew | Girl |
| Nozomi | hope, wish (depends on characters) | Japanese | Unisex |
| Nozomu | to hope or wish | Japanese | Boy |
| Nthanda | a star | Tumbuka | Unisex |
| Ntombi | girl | Zulu | Girl |
| Nuala | white shoulder | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Nufar | water lily | Hebrew | Girl |
| Nuh | rest, comfort | Hebrew | Boy |
| Nunzia | announced | Italian | Girl |
| Nur | light, radiance | Arabic | Girl |
| Nur ad-Din | light of the faith | Arabic | Boy |
| Nura | light | Arabic | Girl |
| Nuray | bright moon | Turkish | Girl |
| Nuri | the world, an old native Korean word | Korean | Unisex |
| Nurit | buttercup | Hebrew | Girl |
| Nurten | radiant skin | Turkish | Girl |
| Nuru | light, brightness | Swahili | Unisex |
| Nyambura | from mbura, rain | Kikuyu | Girl |
| Nyasha | grace, mercy | Shona | Unisex |
| Nyla | probably a feminine form of Niles | Irish Gaelic | Girl |
| Nyx | night | Greek | Girl |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular names that start with N?
The most popular names starting with N in the US are Noah (#2 for boys), Nora (#20 for girls), Nathan (#63 for boys), Nolan (#65 for boys), Nova (#46 for girls), according to US Social Security Administration data for 2025.
How many names start with N?
In 2025, 784 different girl names starting with N were given to at least 5 US babies each, and 31 of them were in the top 1,000. 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 253 with their meaning and origin.
How common are girl names that start with N?
3.5% of US girls born in 2025 have a name starting with N, making it the 10th most common first letter. In 1950 it was 2.6%.
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 names starting with N come from?
The most common origins on this list are Hebrew (38), Greek (36), Arabic (26).