Girl nameCurrently #39 in the USRising
Nova
NOH-vuh//ˈnoʊvə//
2 syllablesPeak year: 20224 lettersStarts with N
Meaning & origin
New, bright star
Nova comes from the Latin word for 'new' and is used in astronomy for a star that suddenly brightens dramatically. Its cosmic, forward-sounding meaning has made it one of the fastest-growing names of the past decade, appealing to parents drawn to celestial and nature-inspired names.
Nova's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Nova |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 5 |
| 1885 | 12 |
| 1886 | 7 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1888 | 15 |
| 1889 | 12 |
| 1890 | 15 |
| 1891 | 13 |
| 1892 | 20 |
| 1893 | 9 |
| 1894 | 18 |
| 1895 | 20 |
| 1896 | 24 |
| 1897 | 18 |
| 1898 | 30 |
| 1899 | 20 |
| 1900 | 29 |
| 1901 | 23 |
| 1902 | 18 |
| 1903 | 21 |
| 1904 | 24 |
| 1905 | 30 |
| 1906 | 27 |
| 1907 | 32 |
| 1908 | 36 |
| 1909 | 39 |
| 1910 | 32 |
| 1911 | 41 |
| 1912 | 54 |
| 1913 | 64 |
| 1914 | 47 |
| 1915 | 77 |
| 1916 | 88 |
| 1917 | 90 |
| 1918 | 79 |
| 1919 | 96 |
| 1920 | 123 |
| 1921 | 96 |
| 1922 | 97 |
| 1923 | 85 |
| 1924 | 101 |
| 1925 | 100 |
| 1926 | 80 |
| 1927 | 77 |
| 1928 | 84 |
| 1929 | 109 |
| 1930 | 80 |
| 1931 | 82 |
| 1932 | 73 |
| 1933 | 58 |
| 1934 | 78 |
| 1935 | 72 |
| 1936 | 56 |
| 1937 | 60 |
| 1938 | 74 |
| 1939 | 49 |
| 1940 | 44 |
| 1941 | 35 |
| 1942 | 48 |
| 1943 | 47 |
| 1944 | 29 |
| 1945 | 27 |
| 1946 | 38 |
| 1947 | 34 |
| 1948 | 49 |
| 1949 | 42 |
| 1950 | 29 |
| 1951 | 33 |
| 1952 | 33 |
| 1953 | 25 |
| 1954 | 27 |
| 1955 | 39 |
| 1956 | 31 |
| 1957 | 32 |
| 1958 | 19 |
| 1959 | 21 |
| 1960 | 34 |
| 1961 | 23 |
| 1962 | 50 |
| 1963 | 72 |
| 1964 | 50 |
| 1965 | 35 |
| 1966 | 38 |
| 1967 | 35 |
| 1968 | 29 |
| 1969 | 36 |
| 1970 | 51 |
| 1971 | 52 |
| 1972 | 58 |
| 1973 | 48 |
| 1974 | 59 |
| 1975 | 57 |
| 1976 | 70 |
| 1977 | 85 |
| 1978 | 56 |
| 1979 | 76 |
| 1980 | 71 |
| 1981 | 53 |
| 1982 | 57 |
| 1983 | 36 |
| 1984 | 36 |
| 1985 | 38 |
| 1986 | 26 |
| 1987 | 20 |
| 1988 | 19 |
| 1989 | 22 |
| 1990 | 30 |
| 1991 | 20 |
| 1992 | 11 |
| 1993 | 21 |
| 1994 | 19 |
| 1995 | 22 |
| 1996 | 29 |
| 1997 | 48 |
| 1998 | 63 |
| 1999 | 65 |
| 2000 | 74 |
| 2001 | 105 |
| 2002 | 104 |
| 2003 | 112 |
| 2004 | 136 |
| 2005 | 124 |
| 2006 | 129 |
| 2007 | 170 |
| 2008 | 204 |
| 2009 | 273 |
| 2010 | 255 |
| 2011 | 336 |
| 2012 | 526 |
| 2013 | 646 |
| 2014 | 1,240 |
| 2015 | 1,657 |
| 2016 | 2,437 |
| 2017 | 3,284 |
| 2018 | 4,428 |
| 2019 | 4,588 |
| 2020 | 5,322 |
| 2021 | 5,841 |
| 2022 | 6,191 |
| 2023 | 5,511 |
| 2024 | 5,220 |
Nova through the decades
- Nova peaked in 2022, when 6,191 babies were named Nova in the US.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Nova has risen 1040% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Nova currently ranks #39 in the US and is on the rise.
Nicknames
Nova
Variants & spellings
Novah
Famous people named Nova
- Nova (astronomical term) — a stellar phenomenon, common namesake