Given name & surname · also African
Neo
“a gift from God”·“brand-new”
Neo is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a gift from God” (African) and “brand-new” (Greek). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a gift from God” (African) and “brand-new” (Greek). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with African and Greek naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1990. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Neo through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,123
- 3,117 boys · 6 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 240 babies
- 2025
- 204
- #1,066 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +80%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 204 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,066 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 79.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (37). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,935 as a first name in 2020; 204 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Neo’s family of names
In English usage, Neo as a surname shares a linguistic root with the Filipino form Niu. Neo has a related form in Neyo. Neo has a related form in Nio.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Neo has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Ancient Greek roots to each of them.
2 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Neo
- Neo RauchGerman painter, photojournalist, and university teacher (born 1960)
- Neo YauHong Kong actorborn 1990
Characters named Neo: Doctor Neo Cortex (video game character from the Crash Bandicoot series).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Neo, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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