Nova
Boy name · #1305 in 2025 · Uniqueness 82/100
Nova is currently the #1305 boy name in the United States — 149 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1353, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 12,081 boys born in 2025 was named Nova.
Babies named Nova per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Nova first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 317 boys were named Nova — good for #758 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nova against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nova in class?
Nova scores 82 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Nova will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nova is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nova is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Novas were FL (15), TX (14), NY (11), CA (9), NC (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Nova
Statistically, parents drawn to Nova tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Niam, Nakoa, Akiva, Dhruva, and Niklaus.
NiamNakoaAkivaDhruvaNiklausSireNikolaEesa
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nova | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 149 | #1305 |
| 2024 | 176 | #1176 |
| 2023 | 237 | #952 |
| 2022 | 271 | #878 |
| 2021 | 277 | #851 |
| 2020 | 317 | #758 |
| 2019 | 259 | #857 |
| 2018 | 254 | #862 |
| 2017 | 230 | #920 |
| 2016 | 152 | #1229 |
| 2015 | 129 | #1353 |
| 2014 | 104 | #1536 |
| 2013 | 79 | #1811 |
| 2012 | 63 | #2132 |
| 2011 | 41 | #2852 |
| 2010 | 37 | #3072 |
| 2009 | 42 | #2847 |
| 2008 | 28 | #3744 |
| 2007 | 23 | #4243 |
| 2006 | 23 | #4105 |
| 2005 | 21 | #4198 |
| 2004 | 22 | #4005 |
| 2003 | 13 | #5558 |
| 2002 | 13 | #5395 |
| 2001 | 19 | #4121 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Nova a popular boy name?
Nova ranked #1305 among boys in 2025 with 149 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1353.
When was the name Nova most popular?
Nova peaked in 2020, when 317 American boys received the name (ranked #758 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nova?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 12,081 newborn American boys was named Nova. It scores 82/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
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.