Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Niva isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1913. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Niva through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 526
- 0 boys · 526 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 38 babies
- 2025
- 38
- #3,886 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +32%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 38 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,886 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 31.7% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (10). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 582 as a first name in 2020; 189 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.
Niva’s family of names
Niva may belong to the same name family as NIVVA. This is a tentative spelling connection.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: across languages.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Niva, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nyla
“from the Nile river”
>99% girls
Nylah
Nylah is a feminine given name.
>99% girls
Nova
“new; a bright star” · “a butterfly chaser”
5% boys · 95% girls
Noa
“an active woman; movement”
13% boys · 87% girls
Navy
11% boys · 89% girls
Nora
“a man from the north” · “shining light”
>99% girls
Lyra
“one who plays the lyre”
>99% girls
Nalani
“a calmness of the skies; heaven's calm”
>99% girls