Neo

A familiar Greek name with steady appeal.

Boy's name| Also girlsGreekRising fast Also a pet name
#969 5in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A male given name originating as a coinage.

Neo is a boy's and girl's baby name of Greek origin, from the Greek neos meaning "new" or "young," as well as a prefix meaning "new form of." The name gained massive cultural recognition as the protagonist of the Matrix film trilogy.

Keanu Reeves's character Neo — "the One" who frees humanity from its digital prison — gave this name an association with awakening, rebellion, and transformative power. As a given name, Neo carries both the clean simplicity of a three-letter name and the weight of one of cinema's most iconic characters.

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Popularity Over Time

Neo climbed 383 spots in the last 20 years — from #1352 to #969.

06012018024020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Neo
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s1,105
2010s893
2000s879
1990s29

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(27 years, 19902024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Neo
YearBirthsRank
2024232#969
2023226#974
2022240#949
2021227#980
2020180#1100
2019122#1438
2018144#1280
201784#1807
2016100#1617
201581#1840
201493#1663
201360#2193
201269#2026
201178#1832
201062#2165
200978#1870
200864#2138
200769#2028
2006103#1486
200580#1687

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Neo as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Neo has also been given to 6 girls in the U.S. since 2021.

Unranked
Current rank
6
Total births
2021
Peak year
Compare Neo as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Neo be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Neo is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #969. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Neo has two lives

Neo, the baby name
#969boys
2,906 babies
Currently viewing
Neo, the pet name
#717pet name
167 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19902024) · Methodology