Neva

♀ Girl

Pronounced NEE-vah /ˈni.vɑ/High

Meaning: From Spanish nieve, 'snow' (as in Sierra Nevada, 'snowy range'); also the river Neva of St. PetersburgMedium

In 30 seconds: Snow-pure and river-cool: Neva draws on Spanish 'nieve', snow — the Sierra Nevada's namesake — and names the elegant river of St. Petersburg. Crisp, vintage, and quietly luminous.

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Origin MediumSpanish, Russian

MeaningFrom Spanish nieve, 'snow' (as in Sierra Nevada, 'snowy range'); also the river Neva of St. Petersburg

U.S. rank (2025)#3333 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births47 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1920

Total births (all-time)≈ 21,220

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

Neva comes from Spanish nieve, 'snow' — the root of Nevada, 'snowy' — and independently names the river Neva, on which St. Petersburg was built. A quiet early-twentieth-century American favorite, it reads vintage and fresh at once.

It registers thinly today, reading as a snowy antique gem. Rare, snow-and-river at the root, and luminous.

Did you know? The river Neva flows through St. Petersburg past the Winter Palace — fitting company for a name that, in its Spanish reading, means 'snow'.

Overall data confidence 72%

Behind the Name — Neva — etymology

Variations

NievaNevahNevaeh

Nicknames

Nev

Famous Bearers

★Neva Morris (1885-2010)
American supercentenarian who was the oldest person in the United States at the time of her death
★Neva Small (1952-)
American actress and singer known for her stage and television work in the 1970s

If you like Neva…

Nevaeh— the modern name it brushes in sound

Nova— a fellow short luminous name

Neve— the Irish-Italian 'snow/bright' cousin

Azul— another Spanish name

Perla— shares Neva's Spanish roots

Explore names like Neva

By themespanish nature vintage

By meaningSea / Water Snow / Winter

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Neva mean?

Neva is from Spanish nieve, 'snow', and also names the river Neva of St. Petersburg.

How do you pronounce Neva?

It's said NEE-vah /ˈni.vɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Neva a boy or girl name?

Neva is a girl's name.

How popular is Neva?

Neva is a rare vintage name in the U.S.