Unisex name · since 1901

Nieves

Since 1901, U.S. Social Security records show 986 babies named Nieves, peaking in 1926. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.

#7,598 of 72,339
all-time among girls
986
born since 1901
1920s
peak decade

Nieves sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 986 recorded since 1901.

Social Security Administration records show Nieves recorded 986 times among girls since 1901, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1901 to 2017.

  • #7,598 of 72,339 all-time among girls
  • 986 born since 1901
  • 1920s peak decade

Data updated Aug 2026

The verdict

According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nieves ranks #7,598 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 986 born since 1901, peaking in the 1920s.

#7,598 of 72,339
all-time among girls
986
born since 1901
1920s
peak decade
Above the archive median
All-time archive position

Nieves's 986 recorded births place it above 89.49% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.

3 jurisdictions
State-record footprint

The state file records this name in 3 jurisdictions, led by Texas.

Nieves's usage pattern, beyond the headline number

Divide Nieves's SSA record in two at 1963 and the more recent half accounts for 44% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 56%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1901, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1926 peak of 26, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.

Nieves popularity over time - girls

Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1901–2017

Last recorded 2017
Peak year (1926)
26
Annual births at peak, across 117 years of records
051015202530 190119231936195019671982199620092017 7

Nieves popularity over time - boys

595 total births recorded since 1913 (Nieves as boys' name)

Unisex variant - 595 births
05101520 191319251936194719581970198119952007 7

Nieves by decade

1920s is the heaviest window (183 births, 19% of the file).

1920s was Nieves's strongest decade.

183 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 19% of all-time use.

Nieves births by decade

Total births in each ten-year window

births

What this shows Peak: 1920s at 183 births (19% of all-time use).

Source U.S. Social Security Administration · Baby Names As of August 2026

How Nieves compares to similarly-sized names

Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Nieves's total volume

Nieves vs 15 similarly-sized girls names Scatter plot of 16 data points. 0%5%10%15%20% 050100150200 New & already peakedOld name, single-era peakNew & still diversifyingLong history, steady all along Years in SSA records % of total births in the single peak year -102, 9.6%-146, 4%-98, 5.8%-23, 18.5%-25, 9.7%-60, 6.5%-53, 3.9%-146, 2.7%-44, 4%-55, 6.1%-27, 9.1%-132, 3.4%-124, 3%-24, 8.6%-28, 7.1%Nieves-117, 2.6%Nieves
Nieves vs 15 similarly-sized girls names

Nieves by state

Where Nieves concentrates geographically, total births since 1901

Regionally concentrated
Top 3 states by recorded births for the name Nieves
Rank State Visual share Births Share of total
#1 Texas
300 30.4%
#2 California
12 1.2%
#3 New York
5 0.5%
Texas share of Nieves's total US births 30.4%
Even split

300 of 986 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 3 reporting states.

Frequently Asked Questions

How popular is the name Nieves?
986 babies have been named Nieves since 1901. All-time, it sits at #7,598 of 72,339 girls' names by recorded births. It was last recorded in 2017. The peak year was 1926 with 26 births.
Where does Nieves sit in the SSA name archive?
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Nieves ranks #7,598 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). All-time ordinal matches browse popularity (total births DESC); the current ordinal uses the null SSA file. See /methodology#corpus-placement.
When was Nieves most popular?
Nieves was most popular in the 1920s decade with 183 total births. The single peak year was 1926.
Where is Nieves most popular?
The top states for the name Nieves are Texas (300 births), California (12 births), New York (5 births).
Is Nieves a unisex name?
Yes, Nieves is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 986 births, and as a boy's name it has 595 births.
How long has the name Nieves been used?
The SSA has tracked Nieves since 1901 -- 117 years through the most recent 2017 data.
What names are similar to Nieves?
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Niesha, Niema, Nieve, Nieshia, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.

What to do with Nieves's data

  • Nieves's decade-level peak was the 1920s (183 total births); usage has since declined to 37 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
  • Texas records the most Nievess (300 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names

Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.

Keep exploring Nieves

Nearby Names Like Nieves

Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Nieves

Names with a similar number of total births

Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span

Two nationwide peer axes for Nieves: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.

Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.

Data Sources

Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.

Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1901–2017 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).

State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).

Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Nieves draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.