A 1980s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Nima since 1921
Babies named Nima per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1990, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Nima's real moment was 1982.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 17 | 0 |
| 1930s | 5 | 0 |
| 1940s | 0 | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 | 68 |
| 1980s | 55 | 292 |
| 1990s | 41 | 309 |
| 2000s | 73 | 200 |
| 2010s | 114 | 94 |
| 2020s | 64 | 89 |
Meaning & origin
Nima is a unisex name with Persian and Arabic roots, first recorded in the United States in 1971. It reached its peak popularity in 1982, and as of 2025 it ranked 5,208, with 1 in 94,893 newborns given the name. The name has been on a rising trajectory since 2014, reflecting growing interest in short, cross-cultural names. Its most common U.S. state of use is California. The name's appeal lies in its simplicity and dual heritage, though its exact meaning is debated, making it a choice that carries a sense of mystery and global connection.
Nima has multiple proposed origins. In Persian, it may be a shortened form or variant of names like Nima or Nimaat, carrying meanings related to justice or renown. In Arabic, Nima (also spelled Ni'mah) means 'blessing' or 'grace'. The name is used across Persian- and Arabic-speaking cultures, as well as among South Asian populations. It gained modern usage as a unisex name in the United States beginning in the 1970s.
Where Nima is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Nima” around the world
Where Nima lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Ni'mah, Neema
Sibling names for Nima
Names that share Nima's style, for a brother or sister.
