MallowbyNames

Nation

NAY-shun · A word name from the English common noun meaning a large body of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory.

2025 rank (boys)
#4,539
Babies named in 2025
22
Peak popularity
2021
2025 frequency
1 in 77,640 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Declining since 2021

Declining since 2021, #4,539 for boys today.

Popularity of Nation since 1997

Babies named Nation per year in U.S. Social Security records.

152944200020102020Most births 2021GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirlsBoys
1990s011
2000s587
2010s36144
2020s34182

Meaning & origin

Nation is a modern word name that entered U.S. birth records in 1997, reflecting the contemporary trend of using abstract and evocative vocabulary as given names. As of 2025, Nation ranks 4,539 in popularity, a notable fall from its peak in 2021. It is given to approximately 1 in every 77,640 newborn boys, underscoring its rarity. The name has not appeared among top states, and its trajectory shows a decline since 2021. Nation fits a stylish pattern of aspirational word names like Creed, Legacy, and Journey.

Nation is a modern English word name, derived directly from the common noun 'nation,' which entered English from Old French 'nacion' and Latin 'natio' (meaning birth, race, or people). Its use as a given name is a contemporary coinage, likely inspired by the fashion for virtue or conceptual names and a desire for distinctive, evocative choices. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in the late 1990s.

Sibling names for Nation

Names that share Nation's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Honor, True, Story, Haven, Journey

Brothers: Creed, Brave, Legend, Knight, Fate

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

N is for Nation, our favorite little boy.

“N is for Nation…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Nation's letter becomes Nation's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Nation's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Nation mean?
Nation is a word name taken directly from the English noun meaning a large group of people with a common identity, such as a country or ethnic group.
How popular is the name Nation?
Nation is a rare name. In 2025, it ranked 4,539 in the U.S., with about 1 in every 77,640 newborn boys given the name. Its highest popularity was in 2021.
Is Nation a boy's or girl's name?
Nation is used predominantly for boys, though it could be considered gender-neutral. The Social Security Administration data show it is given almost exclusively to boys.