Declining since 2013, #2,516 for boys today.
Popularity of Neymar since 2010
Babies named Neymar per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2010s | 2,426 |
| 2020s | 471 |
Meaning & origin
Neymar is a modern first name that emerged directly from the celebrity of Brazilian soccer star Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior. The name first appeared in U.S. birth records in 2010 and rose quickly to a peak rank of 2516 in 2014, the year of the World Cup in Brazil where Neymar was a standout player. Since 2013, however, its usage has been falling, and in 2025 it ranks 2516 with roughly 1 in every 32228 male newborns receiving the name. The name has been most popular in states with large Brazilian or Latino populations, particularly New York, Florida, and Texas. As a personal name, Neymar has no established etymology or historical meaning; it is a contemporary honorific for a sports figure, similar to other celebrity-inspired names like Kehlani or Kobe. Parents drawn to the name often appreciate its association with athletic excellence and Brazilian culture.
Neymar is a modern given name that came into use after the rise to fame of Brazilian footballer Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (born 1992). The footballer's own surname Neymar is itself rare and possibly a variant of the Portuguese surname Ney or an invention. The name gained international visibility after 2010 and entered U.S. birth records that same year as a boy's name, peaking in rank in 2014.
Where Neymar is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Neymar” around the world
Where Neymar 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: Ney
Sibling names for Neymar
Names that share Neymar's style, for a brother or sister.
