Nova is a name of Latin origin that means ‘new’ or ‘young’. Often associated with concepts of novelty and a sense of renewal, the name has become more popular over the recent decades, reflecting a contemporary appeal.
In astrological terms, the word ‘nova’ means an exploding star. The luminosity of a star exploding can increase by over a thousand times its regular brightness, before gradually fading over time. The meaning fits perfectly for a new baby who shines as brightly as the biggest star in the sky.
Over the years, the name has been most commonly used for females. However, the name can be unisex and is growing in popularity for baby boys too.
- Name Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Means new
- Pronunciation: No – Va
- Gender: Gender-neutral name but more commonly used as a girl’s name.
How Popular is the Name Nova?
Traditionally, Nova has not been a popular name. In 1900, the name was ranked #670 in female baby names. The name had its lowest popularity ranking in 1937 at position #962, but a resurgence of the name began in the late 20th century.
The popularity of the name peaked in 2021 when it was ranked by the Social Security Administration as the 32nd most popular baby girl name in the US.
In 2021, 5516 baby girls were born and named Nova. In comparison, only 274 boys were given the name, and it was ranked #853 in the popularity chart for boys’ names.
Name Variations
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Neva | Snow | Mexican |
| Noa | Movement/motion | Hebrew |
| Tova | God-pleasing/beautiful Thord | Swedish |
| Nora | Shining light/honor | Latin |
| Eva | Animal/life | Hebrew |
| Nina | Little girl | Spanish |
| Nola | White shoulder | Irish |
Other Latin Girl’s Names
| Name | Meaning |
| Aelia | Sun |
| Annia | Priceless one |
| Gaia | The Earth |
| Lucilla | Light |
| Luna | Goddess of the moon |
| Julia | Youthful |
| Valentina | Healthy and strong |
Alternative Girl Names Starting with ‘N’
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Naomi | Pleasantness | Hebrew |
| Noelle | Christmas | French |
| Nicole | Victory of people | French/Greek |
| Nanna | Daring and brave | Scandinavian |
| Narcissa | Flower | Greek |
| Nephelle | Greek Goddess | Greek |
| Nadia | Hope | Russian |
Famous People Named Nova
- Nova Pilbeam – British actress
- Nova Gunner – American model
- Nova Rockafeller – Canadian Rapper
- Nova Ren Suma – American author