Nioh
A Japanese masculine name meaning "inyo", which refers to the duality of opposites.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Nioh. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Nioh today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nioh births was 2017 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nioh. 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 Nioh. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2017
5 babies that year
Average age
9
years old
2017 SSA rank
#13,685
Tracked since 2017
Popularity
Nioh: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Nioh 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 Nioh during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Nioh
The name Nioh is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The name is likely derived from the Sanskrit word "niyah," which means "guide" or "leader." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who were seen as leaders or guides within their communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nioh can be found in the Hindu scriptures, particularly in the Rigveda, which is one of the oldest and most revered sacred texts of Hinduism. The name appears as a reference to a sage or a wise person who was respected for their knowledge and guidance.
In the 6th century BCE, there was a notable figure named Nioh who was a philosopher and teacher in ancient India. He is credited with contributing to the development of the Nyaya school of Hindu philosophy, which focused on logic and epistemology. Nioh's teachings and writings were influential in shaping the intellectual discourse of his time.
Another famous bearer of the name Nioh was a Buddhist monk who lived in the 7th century CE. He was known for his spiritual teachings and his contributions to the spread of Buddhism in parts of Asia. Nioh was revered for his wisdom and his ability to guide others on the path of enlightenment.
In the 12th century CE, there was a prominent scholar and poet named Nioh who hailed from the region of present-day Iran. He was celebrated for his mastery of the Persian language and his beautiful poetic works, which were widely read and appreciated during his lifetime.
During the 16th century, a notable figure named Nioh was a military commander in the Mughal Empire, which ruled over large parts of the Indian subcontinent. He was renowned for his strategic prowess and his leadership on the battlefield, which contributed to several victories for the Mughal forces.
While the name Nioh has its roots in ancient Sanskrit and Hindu traditions, it has also been adopted and used in various cultures and regions over the centuries. The name has carried connotations of wisdom, guidance, and leadership, reflecting the qualities and accomplishments of those who bore it throughout history.
People
Nioh + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nioh 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
Nioh: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nioh?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nioh 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 Nioh a common name?
We classify Nioh 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 Nioh most popular?
The single biggest year for Nioh was 2017, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nioh is about 9 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 Nioh in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nioh a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nioh 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 Nioh still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nioh 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 Nioh 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 Americans are named Nioh?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.