Neva
Girl name · #3298 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Neva? In official American birth records, Neva has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 47 baby girls were named Neva, placing it at #3298 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2169, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 38,298 girls born in 2025 was named Neva.
The 145-year story
Neva first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 18 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1920, when 558 girls were named Neva — good for #276 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Neva per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Neva against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Neva in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Neva is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Neva will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Neva is most common
State-level data for Neva is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Neva
Statistically, parents drawn to Neva tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Reva, Geneva, Lela, Elva, and Una.
RevaGenevaLelaElvaUnaVitaIvaElma
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Neva | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 47 | #3296 |
| 2024 | 41 | #3695 |
| 2023 | 65 | #2674 |
| 2022 | 63 | #2720 |
| 2021 | 62 | #2751 |
| 2020 | 68 | #2523 |
| 2019 | 68 | #2561 |
| 2018 | 91 | #2098 |
| 2017 | 96 | #2035 |
| 2016 | 91 | #2129 |
| 2015 | 87 | #2169 |
| 2014 | 87 | #2176 |
| 2013 | 79 | #2326 |
| 2012 | 84 | #2232 |
| 2011 | 93 | #2073 |
| 2010 | 75 | #2476 |
| 2009 | 93 | #2148 |
| 2008 | 79 | #2419 |
| 2007 | 84 | #2293 |
| 2006 | 72 | #2538 |
| 2005 | 62 | #2704 |
| 2004 | 63 | #2620 |
| 2003 | 55 | #2800 |
| 2002 | 46 | #3103 |
| 2001 | 43 | #3198 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Neva?
In official American birth records, the name Neva first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 18 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Neva a popular girl name?
Neva ranked #3298 among girls in 2025 with 47 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2169.
When was the name Neva most popular?
Neva peaked in 1920, when 558 American girls received the name (ranked #276 that year). Since 1920 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Neva?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 38,298 newborn American girls was named Neva. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.