Knova
A unique name possibly derived from words meaning "knowledge" or "wisdom".
Name Census estimates that about 163 living Americans carry the first name Knova. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Knova today is around 5 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Knova births was 2021 (31 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Knova. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
163
~ 1 in 2,102,787 Americans
Peak year
2021
31 babies that year
Average age
5
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,868
Tracked since 2014
Popularity
Knova: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Knova from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 121 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Knova by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Knova during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Knova
The name Knova has its origins in the ancient Slavic language, where it was initially derived from the Proto-Slavic word "knova," meaning "knowledge" or "wisdom." This name was particularly prevalent among the Slavic tribes that inhabited the regions of present-day Eastern Europe and the Balkans during the early medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Knova can be traced back to the 9th century, when a prominent scholar and monk from the region of modern-day Croatia bore this name. Knova the Scribe was renowned for his extensive knowledge of ancient texts and his contributions to the preservation of Slavic literature and history.
In the 11th century, the name Knova gained further recognition with the birth of Knova of Kyiv, a prominent figure in the Kievan Rus' and a member of the ruling Rurikid dynasty. Knova was known for his diplomatic skills and his efforts to strengthen ties between the Kievan Rus' and neighboring kingdoms.
During the Renaissance period, the name Knova experienced a resurgence in popularity, particularly in the Italian city-states. One notable figure was Knova Borghese, a renowned artist and architect from Rome, who lived from 1452 to 1516. Borghese's works, including the design of several churches and palaces, were highly influential and contributed to the artistic and architectural Renaissance in Italy.
In the 16th century, Knova Vuk was a prominent Serbian writer and linguist who played a crucial role in the standardization of the Serbian language. Vuk, who lived from 1487 to 1564, is celebrated for his efforts in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Serbian people.
Another notable figure was Knova Kovalevskaya, a renowned Russian mathematician and pioneering woman in the field of science. Born in 1850, Kovalevskaya made significant contributions to the fields of partial differential equations and mechanics, and she was the first woman to become a full professor of mathematics in modern Europe.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Knova, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and the diverse backgrounds of those who carried this name. While the name's popularity may have waxed and waned over the centuries, its enduring presence serves as a testament to its linguistic and historical significance.
People
Knova + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Knova as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with K
Other first names starting with K with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Knova: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Knova?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 163 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Knova going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,102,787 US residents.
Is Knova a common name?
We classify Knova as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 164 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Knova most popular?
The single biggest year for Knova was 2021, when 31 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Knova is about 5 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Knova in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Knova a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Knova in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Knova still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Knova in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Knova can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Knova?
Want to know how many Americans are named Knova? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.