Declining since 2008, #12,008 for boys today.
Popularity of Neri since 1952
Babies named Neri per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0 | 7 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 | 5 |
| 1980s | 17 | 34 |
| 1990s | 18 | 75 |
| 2000s | 78 | 307 |
| 2010s | 81 | 161 |
| 2020s | 34 | 56 |
Meaning & origin
Neri is a short, melodic unisex name with roots in Italian and Hebrew traditions, though its exact meaning remains open to interpretation. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1952, and while it has never been common, it saw a modest peak in 2007. Since 2008, its usage has been declining, reflecting a pattern typical of many uncommon names that experience brief periods of interest. With 1 in 341,615 newborns receiving the name in 2025, Neri remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking something rare and multicultural. The name's brevity and vowel ending fit current naming trends favoring short, soft-sounding names, and it pairs naturally with Italian and Hebrew sibling names.
Neri has multiple possible origins. It is an Italian surname and given name, often derived from a short form of names like Nereo or Nerina, which themselves may be related to the sea (from Greek Nereus). Alternatively, it could be a modern variant of the Hebrew name Neri, meaning 'my lamp' or 'candle', appearing briefly in the Old Testament. The name gained limited use in the United States from the mid-20th century.
“Neri” around the world
Where Neri lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Neri
Names that share Neri's style, for a brother or sister.
