Neo

♂ Boy

Pronounced NEE-oh /ˈniː.oʊ/High

Meaning: New; from Greek neos (new, fresh, young); also a Tswana (South African) name meaning 'gift'High

In 30 seconds: A name meaning 'new' in Greek and 'gift' in Tswana, made globally famous as Keanu Reeves's character Thomas A. Anderson (Neo) in The Matrix (1999) — the chosen one who learns there is no spoon.

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Origin HighGreek, Tswana

MeaningNew; from Greek neos (new, fresh, young); also a Tswana (South African) name meaning 'gift'

U.S. rank (2025)#1066 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births204 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2022

Total births (all-time)≈ 3,110

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Neo comes from Greek neos (new, fresh) — the root of neologism, neoclassical, and neon (the new element). In Tswana it means 'gift.' The Matrix character Thomas A. Anderson, who adopts the name Neo, brought this to global naming attention.

Neo entered U.S. boys' birth data significantly after The Matrix (1999). It ranked #969 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Neo in The Matrix is also an anagram of 'One' — screenwriters the Wachowskis embedded the messiah theme into the very letters of the name, making Neo simultaneously 'new,' 'the One,' and the protagonist's chosen identity.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Neo — Greek etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

Nico

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Neo (The Matrix) (fictional)
The protagonist of The Matrix film series (1999–2003), played by Keanu Reeves. His name is an anagram of 'One.'

If you like Neo…

Nico— short -o ending name with the same crisp modern quality

Zion— one/two-syllable Hebrew concept name with the same chosen-one feel

Atlas— Greek titan name with the same strong mythological presence

Caspian— literary name from Chronicles of Narnia with the same adventurous feel

Orion— Greek constellation name with the same cosmic, heroic quality

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Neo mean?

Neo means 'new' from Greek neos, and 'gift' in Tswana. The Matrix character's name is also an anagram of 'One.'

How do you pronounce Neo?

It's said NEE-oh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Neo a boy or girl name?

Neo is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Neo?

Neo ranked #969 for U.S. boys in 2024.