Declining since 2016, #5,608 for boys today.
Popularity of Nadav since 1976
Babies named Nadav per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 32 |
| 1990s | 135 |
| 2000s | 233 |
| 2010s | 251 |
| 2020s | 114 |
Meaning & origin
Nadav is a Hebrew name with biblical roots, meaning 'generous' or 'noble.' In the Bible, Nadav was the eldest son of Aaron, the first high priest, though his story is brief and ends tragically. The name has been in consistent but modest use in the United States since at least 1976, when it first appeared in Social Security records. Its peak popularity came in 2016, and since then its usage has been gradually falling. In 2025, it ranked 5,608th, with roughly 1 in every 106,755 boys receiving the name. The name is most common in California, which reflects concentrations of Jewish American communities where the name has cultural resonance. Nadav remains a distinctive choice, balancing religious heritage with a straightforward meaning.
Nadav is a Hebrew name meaning 'generous' or 'noble.' It appears in the Hebrew Bible as the name of the eldest son of Aaron the high priest. Traditionally favored among Jewish communities, the name has seen occasional modern use outside Israel.
Where Nadav is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Nadav” around the world
Where Nadav lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nadi
Variants: Nadab
Sibling names for Nadav
Names that share Nadav's style, for a brother or sister.
