Nehemiah
Boy name · #430 in 2025 · Uniqueness 57/100
In 2025, 743 baby boys were named Nehemiah, placing it at #430 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #362, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,423 boys born in 2025 was named Nehemiah.
The 139-year story
Nehemiah first appears in the Social Security records in 1886, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2010, when 933 boys were named Nehemiah — good for #336 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Nehemiah per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nehemiah against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nehemiah in class?
Nehemiah scores 57 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Nehemiah is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nehemiah is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nehemiahs were TX (114), CA (74), FL (54), GA (44), NC (32). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nehemiah
Statistically, parents drawn to Nehemiah tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Izaiah, Hezekiah, Uriah, Jasiah, and Jedidiah.
IzaiahHezekiahUriahJasiahJedidiahZechariahMicaiahAzariah
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nehemiah | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 743 | #429 |
| 2024 | 742 | #426 |
| 2023 | 725 | #430 |
| 2022 | 697 | #446 |
| 2021 | 765 | #406 |
| 2020 | 820 | #377 |
| 2019 | 863 | #369 |
| 2018 | 803 | #395 |
| 2017 | 895 | #370 |
| 2016 | 930 | #358 |
| 2015 | 909 | #362 |
| 2014 | 889 | #360 |
| 2013 | 931 | #343 |
| 2012 | 906 | #342 |
| 2011 | 867 | #347 |
| 2010 | 933 | #336 |
| 2009 | 853 | #360 |
| 2008 | 871 | #358 |
| 2007 | 876 | #361 |
| 2006 | 826 | #360 |
| 2005 | 545 | #466 |
| 2004 | 385 | #579 |
| 2003 | 355 | #600 |
| 2002 | 288 | #652 |
| 2001 | 263 | #685 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nehemiah a popular boy name?
Nehemiah ranked #430 among boys in 2025 with 743 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #362.
When was the name Nehemiah most popular?
Nehemiah peaked in 2010, when 933 American boys received the name (ranked #336 that year). Since 2010 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nehemiah?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,423 newborn American boys was named Nehemiah. It scores 57/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.