Neri
A feminine name of Armenian origin meaning "my fire" or "my flame".
Name Census estimates that about 850 living Americans carry the first name Neri. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 74.6% of registrations being male. The average person named Neri today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Neri births was 2007 (93 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Neri. 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
850
~ 1 in 403,240 Americans
Peak year
2007
93 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,576
Tracked since 1952
Gender
Gender distribution for Neri
Neri is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 865 total registrations, 645 (74.6%) were male and 220 (25.4%) were female.
Neri as a male name
- Ranked #5,576 in 2024
- 17 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2007 (82 births)
Neri as a female name
- Ranked #14,737 in 2024
- 6 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2014 (13 births)
Popularity
Neri: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Neri from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 385 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Neri 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 Neri during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Neris live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, Texas, Illinois recorded the most babies named Neri, while North Carolina, Illinois, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 51 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Neri
The name Neri has its roots in various cultures and languages, with a rich history spanning centuries. One of the earliest known origins of the name can be traced back to the Hebrew language, where it is derived from the word "ner," meaning "lamp" or "light." This connection to light and illumination has imbued the name with spiritual and symbolic significance.
Another possible origin of the name Neri lies in the Italian language, where it is believed to be a shortened form of the name Nereide, which itself is derived from the Greek word "Nereid," referring to the sea nymphs in Greek mythology. This association with the mythological realm adds a layer of mystique and enchantment to the name.
In ancient times, the name Neri has been recorded in various historical texts and records. One notable mention is found in the Bible, where Neri is listed as the father of Salathiel in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke. This biblical reference has imbued the name with a sense of religious and spiritual significance for many.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Neri. One of the earliest recorded instances is Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595), an Italian priest and the founder of the Congregation of the Oratory. His life and teachings had a profound impact on the Catholic Church and the spiritual lives of many.
Another prominent figure was Neri Oxman (born 1976), an Israeli-American designer and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), renowned for her innovative work in material ecology and digital fabrication.
In the realm of literature, Neri Tuzuner (born 1953) is a Turkish writer and academic, known for her contributions to Turkish literature and her advocacy for women's rights.
Neri Marcor (1913-1976) was an Italian film actor who appeared in numerous Italian and international productions, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of cinema.
Finally, Neri Oxman (born 1976) is an Israeli-American designer and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), renowned for her innovative work in material ecology and digital fabrication.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Neri throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural heritage associated with this name.
People
Neri + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Neri 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
Neri: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Neri?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 850 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Neri 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 403,240 US residents.
Is Neri a common name?
We classify Neri as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 865 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Neri most popular?
The single biggest year for Neri was 2007, when 93 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Neri is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Neri a male name?
Yes, 74.6% of people registered as Neri in the SSA data are male. 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.
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.