Declining since 2021, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Nimue since 2001
Babies named Nimue per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 14 |
| 2010s | 33 |
| 2020s | 62 |
Meaning & origin
Nimue has been recorded in U.S. births since 2001, and as of 2023 it ranked 13,208th with approximately 1 in 267,878 newborn girls receiving the name. Its popularity peaked in 2021, after which it entered a declining trajectory. While Nimue remains extremely uncommon, its literary heritage and melodic sound have kept it in use among parents seeking a distinctive name with deep roots in Arthurian romance. The name's slow decline since its peak year suggests it may continue as a niche choice.
Nimue first appears in the 12th-century French Arthurian romances, likely as a variant of the name Niniane or Viviane. The exact derivation is unknown, but it may be related to the Welsh word 'nym' meaning 'lady' or 'nymph.' The name gained modern awareness through Thomas Malory's 'Le Morte d'Arthur,' where Nimue is the Lady of the Lake who gives King Arthur his sword Excalibur.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nim, Nimmy
Variants: Niniane, Viviane, Nimiane
Sibling names for Nimue
Names that share Nimue's style, for a brother or sister.
