Nova
Say it: NOH-va
GirlMeans new4 letters2 syllables
#180
in Ireland (2025)
#183 with spellings combined
26
babies in 2025
#171
best rank (2024)
192
babies since 2012
Up 314
10-year rank change
Nova through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 26 | #183 |
| 2024 | 26 | #171 |
| 2023 | 10 | #358 |
| 2022 | 19 | #235 |
| 2021 | 25 | #192 |
| 2020 | 9 | #407 |
| 2019 | 17 | #273 |
| 2018 | 17 | #266 |
| 2017 | 16 | #289 |
| 2016 | 9 | #451 |
| 2015 | 8 | #497 |
| 2014 | 7 | #542 |
| 2012 | 3 | #908 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Nova mean?
New
Latin, from nova, the feminine form of novus (new).
Say it right
NOHva
The story of Nova
Nova comes from Latin, where nova means “new”. In astronomy a nova is a star that suddenly flares up much brighter than before, which is where many people first meet the word. As a given name it has been used now and then for over a century, but it has only become a regular choice recently, alongside other short, bright names such as Luna and Aurora.
In Ireland Nova first appears in the CSO records in 2012, and it has been given every year since 2014. Its best year was 2024, when 26 girls were named Nova and it reached number 171. The name is more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 101 in 2024.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: Nova (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Nova (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Nova | 26 | 192 |
In Northern Ireland
#121 in 2025 with 17 babies. Best rank #101 (2024); 84 babies since 2016.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.