Nery

♂ Boy

Pronounced NEH-ree /ˈnɛ.ri/High

Meaning: Latin American given name from the surname of St. Philip Neri, the joyful sixteenth-century 'Apostle of Rome'; the surname's own root is uncertainLow

In 30 seconds: A surname canonized into a first name: Nery honors Felipe Neri — Rome's laughing saint, patron of joy — whose name Central America detached and adopted for sons.

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Origin MediumSpanish, Italian

MeaningLatin American given name from the surname of St. Philip Neri, the joyful sixteenth-century 'Apostle of Rome'; the surname's own root is uncertain

U.S. rank (2025)#4215 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births25 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2007

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,563

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

Nery entered Latin American naming from San Felipe Neri — Philip Neri (1515–1595), the humor-loving founder of the Oratory whom Rome called its apostle — whose surname (its own Italian root uncertain, possibly from 'black') became a standalone given name, especially in Guatemala and Honduras. Footballers and boxers named Nery dot Central American rosters.

In the U.S. the name is rare and Central American-marked. A first name with a saint's punchline behind it.

Did you know? St. Philip Neri held that 'a joyful heart is more easily made perfect than a downcast one' — naming's funniest saint, he once shaved half his beard to fight his own vanity.

Overall data confidence 68%

Hagiographic references — Philip Neri — name source; surname root uncertain

Variations

NeriNerioFelipe Neri

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Nery…

Javier— a fellow saint-surname turned Hispanic first name

Felipe— the saint's own first name beside it

Santos— the companion devotional Spanish name

Santi— another Spanish name

Mauro— shares Nery's Italian roots

Explore names like Nery

By themesaint hispanic central-american

By meaningJoy Gift / Blessing

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Nery mean?

Nery comes from the surname of St. Philip Neri, the joyful 'Apostle of Rome'; the surname's own root is uncertain.

How do you pronounce Nery?

It's said NEH-ree /ˈnɛ.ri/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Nery a boy or girl name?

Nery is used for both sexes in Latin America, more often for boys; this page covers that use.

How popular is Nery?

Nery is rare in the U.S., most familiar in Guatemalan and Honduran families.