Find out how popular the first name Naomi has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Naomi by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Naomi is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Naomi being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 4,456 female babies and 6 male babies born with the name Naomi.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 6 baby boys were named Naomi in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Naomi

The name Naomi is a Hebrew name that originated in ancient biblical times. It is derived from the Hebrew word "noam," which means "pleasantness" or "delightfulness." The name first appeared in the Old Testament of the Bible, where it was given to the mother-in-law of Ruth.

In the Book of Ruth, Naomi was a woman from Bethlehem who, along with her husband and two sons, moved to Moab due to famine. After the death of her husband and sons, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth. The story of Naomi and Ruth's loyalty and devotion to each other has become a celebrated example of filial piety and faithfulness.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Naomi is found in the Book of Ruth, which is believed to have been written around the 6th century BCE. The name also appears in other ancient Hebrew texts and inscriptions from the same time period.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Naomi. One of the earliest was Naomi, the wife of the biblical prophet Hosea, who lived in the 8th century BCE. Another famous Naomi was the wife of the Jewish scholar and philosopher Moses Maimonides, who lived in the 12th century CE.

In more recent times, Naomi Shemer (1930-2004) was a renowned Israeli poet and songwriter who composed several popular songs that became anthems for the Israeli people. Naomi Watts (born 1968) is an acclaimed Australian actress known for her roles in films such as "Mulholland Drive" and "The Impossible."

Naomi Campbell (born 1970) is a British supermodel and actress who has been a prominent figure in the fashion industry for decades. Naomi Klein (born 1970) is a Canadian author and social activist known for her critiques of corporate globalization and capitalism.

Naomi Osaka (born 1997) is a Japanese professional tennis player who has won several Grand Slam titles and is widely recognized as one of the best players in the world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Naomi was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Naomi, please contact us.

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