Narvie
A feminine name of unknown origin, its meaning is uncertain.
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Narvie. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 76.2% of registrations being female. The average person named Narvie today is around 86 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Narvie births was 1920 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Narvie. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Narvie is about 86 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Narvies were born before 1950.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Narvie. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1920
10 babies that year
Average age
86
years old
1920 SSA rank
#4,087
Tracked since 1920
Gender
Gender distribution for Narvie
Narvie is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 21 total registrations, 5 (23.8%) were male and 16 (76.2%) were female.
Narvie as a male name
- Ranked #4,759 in 1920
- 5 male births in 1920
- Peak: 1920 (5 births)
Narvie as a female name
- Ranked #4,087 in 1933
- 6 female births in 1933
- Peak: 1933 (6 births)
Popularity
Narvie: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Narvie from the 1920s through to the 1930s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 15 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1920s peak, Narvie remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Narvie 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 Narvie 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 Narvie
The name Narvie has its origins in the Old Norse language, dating back to the Viking era between the 8th and 11th centuries. It is likely derived from the Old Norse words "narr," meaning "brave," and "víg," meaning "battle" or "war." This suggests that the name Narvie may have been initially given to individuals who were renowned for their bravery and prowess in combat.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Narvie can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, which were written between the 12th and 14th centuries. These sagas often featured characters with the name Narvie or variations thereof, indicating that the name was in use among the Norse peoples during this period.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Narvie appears to have been relatively uncommon, although it was likely still used in Scandinavian regions. One notable individual bearing the name was Narvie Thorvaldsson (c. 1050-1120), a Norse explorer and navigator who is believed to have accompanied Leif Erikson on his voyages to Vinland (present-day Newfoundland, Canada).
During the Renaissance period, the name Narvie experienced a small resurgence in popularity, particularly in parts of Northern Europe. One renowned figure from this time was Narvie van der Meer (1525-1592), a Dutch painter and engraver who was renowned for his intricate landscapes and depictions of everyday life.
In the 17th century, the name Narvie was borne by Narvie Olafsson (1610-1678), a Norwegian trader and explorer who is credited with establishing several settlements in Greenland and contributing to the development of the region's whaling industry.
Another notable figure from this period was Narvie Eriksdotter (1650-1718), a Swedish folk healer and midwife who gained fame for her extensive knowledge of herbal remedies and her dedication to helping those in need.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the name Narvie remained relatively uncommon, although it was still occasionally used in Scandinavian and Northern European regions. One individual of note was Narvie Gunnarsson (1785-1862), an Icelandic farmer and poet whose works celebrated the beauty of the Icelandic landscape and the resilience of its people.
While the name Narvie is relatively rare today, it continues to hold a special place in Scandinavian and Norse culture, serving as a reminder of the bravery and resilience of the Vikings and their descendants.
People
Narvie + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Narvie as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Narvie: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Narvie?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Narvie 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Narvie a common name?
We classify Narvie as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 21 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Narvie most popular?
The single biggest year for Narvie was 1920, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Narvie is about 86 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 Narvie in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Narvie a female name?
Yes, 76.2% of people registered as Narvie 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 Narvie still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Narvie 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 Narvie 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 common is the name Narvie?
See how many Americans are named Narvie on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.