Nigee
A Powhatan name meaning "one who chuckles or laughs often".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Nigee. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Nigee today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nigee births was 1993 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nigee. 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 Nigee. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1993
5 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
1993 SSA rank
#9,732
Tracked since 1993
Popularity
Nigee: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Nigee 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 Nigee 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 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Nigee
The given name Nigee is believed to have its origins in the ancient Sumerian language, which flourished in Mesopotamia around 3500-3000 BCE. It is derived from the Sumerian word "nig," meaning "gift" or "present," and "ee," a diminutive suffix often used to indicate endearment or affection. This suggests that Nigee may have been a name bestowed upon a child as a symbol of gratitude or a precious gift.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nigee can be found in a cuneiform tablet dating back to the Third Dynasty of Ur, circa 2100 BCE. The tablet, discovered in the ruins of the ancient city of Ur, contained a list of names, including Nigee, which was likely the name of a child or a person of significance during that era.
Throughout history, the name Nigee has appeared in various ancient texts and historical records, though its usage has been relatively rare. In the 5th century BCE, a Greek philosopher named Nigee of Samos was mentioned in the writings of Diogenes Laertius, a biographer of Ancient Greek philosophers. However, little is known about this individual beyond their name and geographic origin.
During the Middle Ages, a Benedictine monk named Nigee of Canterbury (c. 1050-1120) was renowned for his scholarly contributions to the study of Latin and Greek literature. His works, including translations and commentaries, were widely circulated among the monastic communities of the time.
In the 16th century, a renowned Italian painter and architect named Nigee Fontana (1499-1588) gained recognition for his frescoes and architectural designs in various churches and palaces throughout Italy. His works can still be appreciated in cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice.
Another notable figure bearing the name Nigee was a French explorer and cartographer, Nigee Delisle (1675-1726), who played a significant role in mapping the territories of North America during the early colonial era. His maps and charts were widely used by European explorers and settlers in the New World.
While the name Nigee has been relatively uncommon throughout history, it has persisted as a unique and intriguing name, carrying with it the essence of its ancient Sumerian origins and the symbolism of a cherished gift or blessing.
People
Nigee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nigee 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
Nigee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nigee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nigee 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Nigee a common name?
We classify Nigee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nigee most popular?
The single biggest year for Nigee was 1993, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nigee is about 32 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 Nigee in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nigee a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nigee 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 Nigee still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nigee 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 Nigee 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 have the name Nigee?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.