Nova is of Latin origin and is derived from the word ‘Novus’. The meaning of Nova and Novus is ‘new’. Nova as a word has been in use for hundreds of years. However, Nova was not used as a name until the beginning of the 19th century.
The word nova also has an interesting astrological meaning. A nova in space is an exploding star. The luminosity of a nova can increase by over a thousand times its regular brightness, before gradually fading over time. The Nova meaning fits perfectly for a new baby who shines as brightly as the biggest star in the sky.
Over the years, Nova is a name that has been most commonly used for females. However, the name can be unisex and is growing in popularity for baby boys too.
- Nova Name Origin: Latin
- Meaning of Nova: Means new
- Pronunciation: No – Va
- Gender: Unisex 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, Nova was ranked as #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 2010s.
Popularity of the name Nova peaked in 2021 when it was ranked by 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 named Nova, and the name was ranked #853 in the popularity chart for boys’ names.
Variations of the Name Nova
If you like the name Nova but don’t feel like it is the best name for your baby, there are several similar names out there to choose from. Nova may not be the one, but maybe one of these similar names is the baby name you have been searching for.
| 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 Amazing Latin Girls Names
There are hundreds of Latin names to choose from. If you are not sure about Nova, why not see if any of these Latin names sound perfect for your new baby.
| 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’
Are you set on choosing a little girl’s name that starts with ‘N’? If so, here are some great alternatives to Nova:
| 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
Although the name Nova has been around since the 19th century, there have not been many famous people with this name. However, there have been a handful of celebrities over the years called Nova, here is a list of the most popular:
- Nova Pilbeam – British actress
- Nova Gunner – American model
- Nova Rockafeller – Canadian Rapper
- Nova Ren Suma – American author