Nehemiah
Boy name · #430 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Nehemiah? In official American birth records, Nehemiah has been tracked continuously since 1886, giving it 139 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nehemiah against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nehemiah in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nehemiah is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". 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. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Nehemiah is most common in GA (0.9 per 1,000), VA (0.9 per 1,000), WA (0.7 per 1,000), MD (0.7 per 1,000), TX (0.7 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.5 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Nehemiah is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Nehemiah?
In official American birth records, the name Nehemiah first appeared in 1886 (over 139 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.