Declining since 2020, #4,857 for boys today.
Popularity of Nas since 1997
Babies named Nas per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 10 |
| 2010s | 118 |
| 2020s | 115 |
Meaning & origin
Nas is a short, strong name that first appeared on American birth records in 1997, around the time rapper Nas was at the peak of his early career. It reached its highest rank in 2020, reflecting sustained interest tied to the musician's enduring influence. The name remains relatively rare; in 2025 it ranked 4,857th with only 1 in 85,404 newborns receiving it. Though its origins are in the Arabic name Nasir, its modern usage in the United States is heavily shaped by pop culture. Nas has shown a slight downward trend in recent years, but it remains a distinctive choice with a cool, minimal feel.
Nas is likely a shortened form of Nasir, an Arabic name meaning "helper" or "supporter." It gained visibility through the American rapper Nas, born Nasir Jones in 1973. The name saw a spike in use in the United States after his rise to fame in the 1990s, and it has been used steadily since, particularly in African American communities.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Nasir
Sibling names for Nas
Names that share Nas's style, for a brother or sister.
