Nova
Gender: Girl
Meaning: New; a star that suddenly increases in brightness
Origin: Latin nova — feminine of novus (new); in astronomy, a nova is a star that suddenly blazes with new light
Popularity: Ranked #46 in 2025 with 4,657 babies born.
History: Nova carries one of the most beautiful meanings in naming — a star that suddenly blazes to life, flooding the sky with new light. The astronomical term comes from the Latin nova stella (new star). The name was barely used in America before 2010, then climbed with extraordinary speed into the top 50 by 2020, part of the celestial name wave that includes Luna, Aurora, and Stella. It is short, punchy, and completely modern in feel while carrying ancient Latin roots. Its rise reflects the growing parental love for names that connect children to the cosmos.
Famous people named Nova: Nova (Marvel Comics)
Name length: 4 letters
How common is Nova? About 1 in 693 babies born in 2025 were named Nova, or roughly 13.2 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Nova
What does the name Nova mean?
Nova means “New; a star that suddenly increases in brightness” from Latin nova — feminine of novus (new); in astronomy, a nova is a star that suddenly blazes with new light roots.
What is the origin of the name Nova?
Nova has Latin nova — feminine of novus (new); in astronomy, a nova is a star that suddenly blazes with new light origin. The traditional meaning is “New; a star that suddenly increases in brightness”.
How popular is Nova?
Nova ranked #46 in 2025 — given to 4,657 babies that year.
When was Nova most popular?
Nova peaked in 2022 with 5,920 babies registered that year.
Is Nova a boy or girl name?
Nova is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Novas in registered births are female.
How long has Nova been recorded?
Nova appears in birth records across 142 years — from 1880 through 2025.