Nieman
A masculine name of Germanic origin meaning "nobody" or "newcomer".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Nieman. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Nieman today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nieman births was 1990 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nieman. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Nieman. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1990
6 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
1990 SSA rank
#7,821
Tracked since 1990
Popularity
Nieman: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Nieman 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 Nieman during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Nieman
The name Nieman has its origins in the Old German language, tracing back to the 8th century AD. It is derived from the words "nie" meaning "never" and "man" meaning "human," suggesting a sense of immortality or an unwavering spirit. The name was initially associated with the Germanic tribes that inhabited regions across modern-day Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland.
In the medieval period, the name Nieman gained prominence as a monastic name among Christian monasteries and religious orders across central Europe. It was often bestowed upon monks known for their pious devotion and spiritual fortitude. The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in a 10th-century manuscript from the Benedictine abbey in Trier, Germany, where a monk named Nieman is mentioned.
During the Renaissance era, the name Nieman found its way into the artistic and literary circles of Europe. One notable figure was Nieman von Trier (1480-1556), a German painter and engraver renowned for his religious artwork and portraits of nobility. His works can be found in various museums and galleries across Germany and the Netherlands.
In the 18th century, Nieman Müller (1737-1820) was a prominent Swiss theologian and philosopher who wrote extensively on the subject of natural theology and the existence of God. His work, "The Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity," published in 1797, was widely influential in theological discourse of the time.
Another notable figure was Nieman Bauer (1815-1882), a German-American architect and engineer who played a significant role in the construction of several iconic landmarks in New York City, including the Brooklyn Bridge and the original Madison Square Garden.
In the 20th century, Nieman Schindler (1892-1948) was an influential Austrian-American architect known for his contributions to the modernist movement in architecture. His residential projects, such as the Schindler House in West Hollywood, California, are considered masterpieces of modern design and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the name Nieman, each leaving their mark in various fields and disciplines. The name's rich heritage and meaning continue to resonate across cultures, reflecting a spirit of perseverance and an enduring legacy.
People
Nieman + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nieman 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
Nieman: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nieman?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nieman 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Nieman a common name?
We classify Nieman as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nieman most popular?
The single biggest year for Nieman was 1990, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nieman is about 35 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 Nieman in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nieman a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nieman 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.
Is Nieman still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nieman 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 Nieman 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 are called Nieman?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.