Nieve
A girl's name of Spanish origin with 186 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
variant form of nief
Nieve is a girl's baby name of Spanish origin, meaning 'snow' — from the Spanish nieve, evoking the purity, quiet, and crystalline beauty of snow.
Nieve is particularly associated with the Marian title Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows), a venerated feast day in August. As a given name, it has a cool, crisp beauty — especially striking in warm climates where it carries the wonder of something rare and beautiful.
EtymologyShow more
Nieve is built from 5 letters and one syllable — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Spanish naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Nieve creates its characteristic open, approachable quality. One-syllable names stand out for their directness. Every sound carries weight, making pronunciation and first impressions immediate.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Nieve was #10481 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #11821, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 28 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 75 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 66 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 17 | — |
The Story of Nieve
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2005, Nieve is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Nieve are most likely born between 1996 and 2015.
How rare is Nieve?
Only about 1 in every 450,000 babies born in 2024 was named Nieve — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1996, peaked in the 2010s with 75 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Nieve by the numbers
- Would fill 4 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(24 years, 1996–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | #11821 |
| 2023 | 8 | #11890 |
| 2021 | 5 | #16993 |
| 2020 | 7 | #13089 |
| 2019 | 9 | #11130 |
| 2018 | 8 | #12188 |
| 2017 | 9 | #11364 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12693 |
| 2014 | 7 | #14171 |
| 2013 | 11 | #10066 |
| 2012 | 8 | #13120 |
| 2011 | 8 | #13052 |
| 2010 | 7 | #14562 |
| 2009 | 11 | #10470 |
| 2008 | 7 | #14962 |
| 2007 | 6 | #17029 |
| 2005 | 11 | #9951 |
| 2004 | 10 | #10481 |
| 2003 | 7 | #13442 |
| 2002 | 7 | #13242 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1996–2024