Declining since 2017, #3,296 for girls today.
Popularity of Neva since 1880
Babies named Neva per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Neva's real moment was 1898.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 375 |
| 1890s | 1,125 |
| 1900s | 1,432 |
| 1910s | 3,454 |
| 1920s | 4,294 |
| 1930s | 2,990 |
| 1940s | 1,830 |
| 1950s | 1,766 |
| 1960s | 950 |
| 1970s | 535 |
| 1980s | 353 |
| 1990s | 286 |
| 2000s | 633 |
| 2010s | 851 |
| 2020s | 346 |
Meaning & origin
Neva is a rarely used girl's name with several possible origins. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1880, and its peak year was 1898. Since 2017, its usage has been falling. In 2025, the name ranked 3296th, with approximately 1 in 34,197 babies named Neva. The most common states for Neva are Ohio and Texas. Despite its obscurity, Neva carries a soft, vintage feel that may appeal to parents seeking a distinctive but simple name.
Neva may have several possible origins. It could be a variant of the Irish name Niamh, meaning 'bright' or 'radiant,' or derived from the Neva River in Russia. The name also emerged in the late 19th century in the United States, possibly as a creative respelling of names like Eva or Nova.
Where Neva is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Neva” around the world
Where Neva lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
75
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Niva
Sibling names for Neva
Names that share Neva's style, for a brother or sister.
