Holding steady.
Popularity of Novice since 1915
Babies named Novice per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Novice's real moment was 1927.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 21 |
| 1920s | 47 |
| 1930s | 34 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Novice is an exceptionally rare given name in the United States. It first appeared in official records in 1915, a time when unusual virtue-style names were occasionally coined. Its peak year of usage was 1927, after which it became virtually extinct. The name carries the literal meaning of a beginner or new convert, but unlike traditional virtue names such as Grace or Faith, Novice never gained cultural traction. With no recorded births in 2025 and no top states of usage, it remains a historical curiosity rather than a living choice.
The name Novice first appeared in U.S. records in 1915, with a peak in 1927. It is an unusual name, likely a rare coinage from the English noun 'novice,' which itself comes from Old French 'novice' and Latin 'novicius' meaning 'new.' There is no evidence of traditional usage in any culture; it appears to be an invented name with no established meaning beyond its literal sense.
Sibling names for Novice
Names that share Novice's style, for a brother or sister.
