Nigeria: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	–	–	–	–
1970s	25	3	–	#6,757
1980s	82	8	+228%	#6,053
1990s	308	31	+276%	#2,746
2000s	299	30	-3%	#2,587
2010s	68	7	-77%	#10,276
2020s (to 2025)	28	5	-31%	#10,204

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

1970s

–

#6,757

1980s

+228%

#6,053

1990s

308

+276%

#2,746

2000s

299

-3%

#2,587

2010s

-77%

#10,276

2020s (to 2025)

-31%

#10,204

The story of Nigeria

Nigeria is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #16,595 in 2025 with 5 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1975, 810 American babies have been named Nigeria. Its peak came in 2000, when 58 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Nigeria stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Nigeria?

The median living Nigeria is about 26 years old; half are between 20 and 31. An estimated 800 people named Nigeria are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Nigeria year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	5	#16,595
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	10	#10,204
2021	8	#11,896
2020	5	#16,847
2019	–	–
2018	7	#13,433
2017	5	#17,727
2016	7	#13,965
2015	8	#12,696
2014	10	#10,732
2013	7	#14,218
2012	8	#13,121
2011	5	#18,802
2010	11	#10,276
2009	12	#9,824
2008	17	#7,652
2007	24	#5,851
2006	28	#5,059
2005	27	#4,926
2004	25	#5,173
2003	34	#4,012
2002	24	#5,044
2001	50	#2,912
2000	58	#2,587
1995	34	#3,341
1990	16	#5,750
1985	5	#11,913
1980	10	#6,626
1975	5	#10,096
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Nigeria, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Nigeria?

The median living Nigeria is about 26 years old. Half of all living Nigerias are between 20 and 31 years old.

How many people named Nigeria are alive today?

An estimated 800 people named Nigeria are alive in the United States, based on 810 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Nigeria in 2025?

Nigeria ranked #16,595 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 5 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Nigeria?

810 babies have been named Nigeria in the United States since 1975, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Nigeria most popular?

Nigeria peaked in 2000, when 58 newborns received the name.

Is Nigeria a boy or girl name?

Nigeria is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Nigeria rising or falling?

Nigeria is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Nigeria

Nigeria popularity over time

The story of Nigeria

How old are people named Nigeria?

Nigeria year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Nigeria