Nima
Every Nima since 1921 — 1,421 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Nima
Nima is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #5,338 in 2025 with 18 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1921, 1,421 American babies have been named Nima — about 74% boys and 26% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1992, when 51 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1990s.
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 Nima stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Nima year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #11,643 | 18 | #5,338 |
| 2024 | 9 | #10,870 | 14 | #6,383 |
| 2023 | 12 | #8,842 | 16 | #5,851 |
| 2022 | 11 | #9,498 | 11 | #7,599 |
| 2021 | 9 | #10,896 | 15 | #5,954 |
| 2020 | 15 | #7,475 | 15 | #5,894 |
| 2019 | 7 | #13,412 | 13 | #6,677 |
| 2018 | 15 | #7,663 | 9 | #8,628 |
| 2017 | 9 | #11,373 | 12 | #6,984 |
| 2016 | 12 | #9,275 | 10 | #7,986 |
| 2015 | 14 | #8,322 | 7 | #10,302 |
| 2014 | 15 | #7,963 | 9 | #8,600 |
| 2013 | 16 | #7,654 | 7 | #10,413 |
| 2012 | 9 | #11,975 | 8 | #9,464 |
| 2011 | 9 | #11,910 | 11 | #7,358 |
| 2010 | 8 | #13,144 | 8 | #9,426 |
| 2009 | 5 | #19,418 | 13 | #6,708 |
| 2008 | 10 | #11,376 | 10 | #8,118 |
| 2007 | 8 | #13,583 | 12 | #6,962 |
| 2006 | 13 | #9,130 | 20 | #4,635 |
| 2005 | 7 | #14,107 | 13 | #6,121 |
| 2004 | 7 | #13,798 | 16 | #5,187 |
| 2003 | 9 | #11,083 | 23 | #3,813 |
| 2002 | 8 | #11,893 | 30 | #3,067 |
| 2001 | 6 | #14,827 | 32 | #2,908 |
| 2000 | — | — | 31 | #2,904 |
| 1995 | 6 | #12,894 | 28 | #2,667 |
| 1990 | 6 | #12,437 | 41 | #1,899 |
| 1985 | 7 | #8,987 | 30 | #1,955 |
| 1980 | 5 | #11,605 | 20 | #2,505 |
| 1975 | — | — | — | — |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Nima
- Nima Yooshij Writer · 1897–1960
- Nima Arkani-Hamed Physicist · b. 1972
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Nima in 2025?
Nima ranked #5,338 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 18 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Nima?
1,421 babies have been named Nima in the United States since 1921, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Nima most popular?
Nima peaked in 1992, when 51 newborns received the name.
Is Nima a boy or girl name?
Nima is used for both: about 26% of babies named Nima have been girls and 74% boys.
Is the name Nima rising or falling?
Nima is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Nima?
Well-known people named Nima include Nima Yooshij (writer), Nima Arkani-Hamed (physicist).