Nova
Nova is a girl's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
New or young.
Origin and history
Nova is a given name derived from the Latin word meaning 'new'. In astronomy, it refers to a star that suddenly increases dramatically in brightness. It has experienced a massive surge in popularity in the United States in recent years as a trendy, modern celestial name.
Popularity in the United States
55,783 babies in the United States have been named Nova since 1880. It ranks #547 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #37.
States where it is most popular
- TX (8.8 %)
- CA (8.3 %)
- FL (5.7 %)
- OH (4.7 %)
- GA (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 52 |
| 1890-1900 | 187 |
| 1900-1910 | 279 |
| 1910-1920 | 629 |
| 1920-1930 | 891 |
| 1930-1940 | 657 |
| 1940-1950 | 369 |
| 1950-1960 | 283 |
| 1960-1970 | 402 |
| 1970-1980 | 589 |
| 1980-1990 | 360 |
| 1990-2000 | 289 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,221 |
| 2010-2019 | 18,057 |
| 2020-2029 | 31,518 |
Fun facts
- The term comes from the Latin 'nova stella', meaning 'new star', referring to temporary transient stars.
- After being relatively rare for decades, Nova entered the top 50 U.S. female baby names in the 2020s.