50 Baby Names That Start With the Letter “N”

As you go through endless lists of baby names, you may find yourself gravitating toward certain sounds. Some parents love names ending in the long “e” sound or names with three syllables. If you are beginning to realize that you are attracted to names that start with the letter N, why not narrow down your list to names like Nadia, Noel, and Nate?

Popular names beginning with N include Noah, Naomi, Nicholas, and Nicole. There are also some beautiful rare options, like Neptune and Nieves. Take a look through our list of names that start with N for more ideas.

Nadeem

• Origin: Arabic
• Meaning: Drinking companion
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nadim, Nedim
• Peak Popularity: Nadeem is not on the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Nadia

• Origin: Russian
• Meaning: Hope
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nadiia, Nadya, Nadiyya
• Peak Popularity: Nadia is a moderately common name in the U.S. It hit its peak popularity in 2005 at No. 178. Since then, its use has gradually trailed off.

Nadine

• Origin: Russian
• Meaning: Hope
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nadene
• Peak Popularity: Nadine has been a popular name for years, but it’s popularity has waned some since the 1960’s. Nadine has been on the top 1,000 names since 1900, and it peaked at No. 229 in 1926.

Nadir

• Origin: Arabic
• Meaning: Rare
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nader
• Peak Popularity: Nadir is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Naia

• Origin: Basque
• Meaning: Wave, seafoam
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nai’a, Naya, Nya
• Peak Popularity: Naia is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Nalini

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Meaning: Lotus
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nallini, Nalyni
• Peak Popularity: Nalini is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Naomi

• Origin: Hebrew
• Meaning: Pleasantness
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Noemi, Noemia, Noemin, Nohemi
• Peak Popularity: Naomi is a popular name, especially in recent years. It has been a top 100 name since 2010 and it is currently at its peak at No. 52. Naomi has been among the top 500 names consistently since 1900.

Nasim

• Origin: Arabic
• Meaning: Breeze
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Naseem, Nassim, Nesim
• Peak Popularity: Nasim is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Natalia

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: Christmas Day
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Natalija, Natallia, Nataliya
• Peak Popularity: Natalia was only moderately common until the 1970’s when it hopped onto the top 1,000 and stayed there. It increased steadily in popularity, breaking the top 100 for the first time in 2006. Natalia is currently at its peak at No. 79.

Natalie

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: Christmas Day
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nathalie
• Peak Popularity: Natalie has historically been quite a popular name. It has been in the top 600 since the Social Security Administration started collecting name data in 1900. Natalie broke the top 100 names in 1976 and the top 50 in 1996. By 2004, Natalie was a top 20 name. Its peak was in 2008 at No. 13, and it has come down some since then, sitting currently at No. 56.

Natasha

• Origin: Russian
• Meaning: Christmas Day
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Natasa, Natasja, Natisha,
• Peak Popularity: Natasha is a moderately common name, but its popularity is on the decline. Back in 1982, it hit its peak at No. 71 and since then, fewer and fewer parents are choosing this name for their children. Natasha is currently the 905th most common name for girls.

Nathaniel

• Origin: Biblical
• Meaning: God has given
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Natanael, Natanail, Nataneil, Nathanael, Nathanahel, Netan’el
• Peak Popularity: Nathaniel has stood the test of time, having been in the top 250 names since 1900. It broke the top 100 in 1978 and it is currently at No. 133.

Navid

• Origin: Persian
• Meaning: Good news
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Naveed
• Peak Popularity: Navid is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Ned

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Rich guard
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ed, Edward, Ted, Teddy
• Peak Popularity: Ned was a popular baby name until 1977 when it dropped off the charts. It’s peak was in 1907 at position 291.

Neema

• Origin: Swahili
• Meaning: Divine grace
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nema, Nima
• Peak Popularity: Naia is not in the top 1,000 names in the U.S., but it is a top 10 name in Tanzania.

Neil

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: Fury, passion
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Neal, Niall, Nigel
• Peak Popularity: Neil is a popular baby name, but less so than it was in the pass. Neil peaked in 1933 at No. 149 and it is currently at No. 719.

Nela

• Origin: Croatian
• Meaning: Unknown
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nella, Neyla
• Peak Popularity: Nela is a rare name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Nellie

• Origin: English
• Meaning: The other Aenor
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ella, Elle, Ellie, Nell, Nelly, Nora,
• Peak Popularity: Nellie was quite popular in the earlier part of the 20th century, and it has steadily declined in use since. It peaked in 1901 and 1902 at No. 41 and it fell off the charts in 1980. Nellie reappeared on the charts in the year 2019 and it is currently at No. 742.

Nels

• Origin: Danish
• Meaning: Victory of the people
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nel, Nells, Nils
• Peak Popularity: Nels spent some time on the charts from 1901 to 1909 and from 1911 to 1918, and one more time in 1927. Its peak popularity was in 1902 at No. 607.

Nelson

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Son of Niel
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nielson, Niesen
• Peak Popularity: Nelson has historically been a popular baby name, but it has declined in recent years.

Nephele

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Cloud
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nefeli
• Peak Popularity: Nephele is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Neptune

• Origin: Ancient Roman
• Meaning: Ancient Roman God of the Sea
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Neptuno, Neptunus, Nettuno,
• Peak Popularity: Neptune is an uncommon name in the U.S. and not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Nestor

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Homecomer
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nestore, Nestori
• Peak Popularity: Nestor is not currently a common name. In fact, it fell off the charts in 2008. It was at its peak popularity in 1991 at No. 586.

Nevaeh

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Heaven spelled backward
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Naavah, Navaeya, Navia
• Peak Popularity: The name Navaeh came into popularity when Sonny Sandoval’s daughter was born in 2000 and named Navaeh. Within five years, it broke the top 100 names and peaked in 2010 at No. 25. Navaeh is currently the 86th most popular name in the U.S.

Neven

• Origin: Croatian
• Meaning: Marigold
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nevena, Nevenka
• Peak Popularity: Neven is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Neville

• Origin: English
• Meaning: New town
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nevil
• Peak Popularity: Neville is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Nicholas

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Victory of the people
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nickolas, Nikolas
• Peak Popularity: Nicholas has historically been quite popular in the U.S. It has been on the charts since 1900 when the Social Security Administration started reporting name data. It broke into the top 100 in 1972 and into the top 20 in 1985.

  Nicholas became a top 10 name in 1993 and peaked in popularity in 1999 as the 5th most common name for boys.

Nico

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Victory
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Niko, Klaas, Klaus
• Peak Popularity: Nico is currently at its peak popularity as the 259th most common name for boys.

Nicodemus

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Victory of the people
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nicodemo, Nikodemos
• Peak Popularity: Nicodemus is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Nicole

• Origin: French
• Meaning: Victory of the people
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nicolette, Nichole, Nikole
• Peak Popularity: Nicole first showed up on the charts in 1942. It grew steadily in popularity, becoming a top 50 name by 1969 and a top 10 name by 1972. Nicole peaked at position 6 in 1982 and has seen a steady decline since.

Nieves

• Origin: Spanish
• Meaning: Snow
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Neus, Neves, Nives
• Peak Popularity: Nieves is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Nike

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Victory
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nikias, Nikon
• Peak Popularity: Nike is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Nicolette

• Origin: French
• Meaning: Victory of the people
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nicoletta, Nikoletta, Nikolette
• Peak Popularity: Nicolette made a brief appearance on the charts in the early 1950’s and then showed back up again in the ’80s through the early 2000s. It was most popular in 1993 at No. 327.

Nila

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Meaning: Dark blue
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Neela, Neelam, Nilam
• Peak Popularity: Nila fell off the charts in 1953 and it is now considered an uncommon baby name.

Nima

• Origin: Persian
• Meaning: Half moon
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Neema
• Peak Popularity: Nima is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Nina

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: Unknown
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Antonina, Ninette, Tonya
• Peak Popularity: Nina has historically been a common name. It was most popular in 1902 and it stayed in the top 200 from 1900 to 1940. It declined slowly after that and bumped up again in the 1980s before steadily dropping again.

Nishant

• Origin: Sanskrit
• Meaning: Dawn
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nikhil, Prashant
• Peak Popularity: Nishant is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Niven

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: Little Saint
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Naomhan, Nevan
• Peak Popularity: Niven is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Noah

• Origin: Hebrew
• Meaning: Rest
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Noach, Noa, Noe
• Peak Popularity: Noah is currently the 2nd most popular name for boys. From 2013 to 2016 it was ranked No. 1.

  Noah has historically been quite common and it has been a top 100 name since 1995.

Nobuko

• Origin: Japanese
• Meaning: Childlike trust
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nobuyuki
• Peak Popularity: Nobuko is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Noelle

• Origin: French
• Meaning: Christmas
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Noel, Noël, Noëlle
• Peak Popularity: Noelle has been a common name over time and it is somewhat more popular over the past eight years. It is currently at its peak at No. 202.

Nola

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Magnolia
• Alternative Spellings & Variations:
• Peak Popularity: Nola has seen varied popularity over the years. It was on the charts until 1964 when it dropped off until 2008.

Nolan

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: Famous, loud
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nuallan
• Peak Popularity: The name Nolan has become increasingly common over the years. It is currently at its peak popularity at No. 60.

Noll

• Origin: Ancient Germanic
• Meaning: Elf warrior
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nolle, Nole, Olle, Ollie, Oliver
• Peak Popularity: Noll is a rare name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Nora

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: Honor, esteem, dignity
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Eleanor, Honora, Honoria, Leonora
• Peak Popularity: Nora has been a top 50 name since 2014. It is currently at its peak popularity at No. 27.

Norman

• Origin: Germanic
• Meaning: North man
• Alternative Spellings & Variations:
• Peak Popularity: The name Norman is declining in popularity and may soon fall off the charts. Its peak was at No. 37, which it held onto from 1931 to 1933.

Novak

• Origin: Serbian
• Meaning: New
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Hobak, Novack, Nowak
• Peak Popularity: Novak is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Nuan

• Origin: Chinese
• Meaning: Warm, genial
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nwahn
• Peak Popularity: Nuan is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Nyah

• Origin: English
• Meaning: Unknown
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nia, Niyah, Nya
• Peak Popularity: Nyah is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.

Nye

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: Honor, esteem, dignity
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aneirin, Niye
• Peak Popularity: Nye is not listed in the top 1,000 names in the U.S.

Nyx

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: Night
• Alternative Spellings & Variations: Nix, Niks
• Peak Popularity: Nyx is an uncommon name in the U.S. and is not listed in the top 1,000 names.