Niomi
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly a variant of Naomi.
Name Census estimates that about 1,201 living Americans carry the first name Niomi. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Niomi today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Niomi births was 2020 (67 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Niomi. 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
- • Niomi is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 17 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.2K
~ 1 in 285,391 Americans
Peak year
2020
67 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#3,199
Tracked since 1963
Popularity
Niomi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Niomi from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 394 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Niomi remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Niomi 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 Niomi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Niomis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. Texas, California, North Carolina recorded the most babies named Niomi, while Pennsylvania, Illinois, Virginia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 19 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Niomi
The name Niomi is believed to have its origins in the ancient Greek language and culture, with its roots dating back to the classical period of antiquity. It is derived from the Greek word "niomos," which means "fragrant" or "sweet-smelling," suggesting a connection with nature and the pleasant aromas found in the natural world.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Niomi can be found in the works of the ancient Greek poet Sappho, who lived on the island of Lesbos in the 6th century BC. Sappho's poetry often celebrated the beauty of nature and the joys of love, and it is possible that the name Niomi was used to evoke these themes.
During the Hellenistic period, which lasted from the 4th century BC to the 1st century BC, the name Niomi gained popularity among the Greek-speaking populations of the Mediterranean region. It is believed that some of the earliest bearers of the name were from the island of Crete, where the name may have been associated with the island's rich natural flora and fragrant herbs.
In the realm of ancient Greek mythology, there are references to a character named Niomi, who was said to be a nymph associated with the god Apollo. This mythological connection further reinforces the name's ties to nature and its symbolic representation of beauty and grace.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Niomi. One of the earliest recorded examples is Niomi of Ephesus, a Greek philosopher who lived in the 1st century AD and was renowned for her teachings on ethics and virtue.
During the Byzantine era, Niomi Komnene (1083-1153) was a prominent figure in the imperial court of Constantinople. She was known for her intelligence, political acumen, and her role in shaping the cultural and intellectual life of the Byzantine Empire.
In the 15th century, Niomi Palaiologina (1435-1498) was a Greek princess who played a significant role in the political and cultural exchanges between the Byzantine Empire and the Italian Renaissance. Her patronage of the arts and her support for scholars and artists contributed to the flourishing of the Renaissance movement.
In more recent times, Niomi Harris (1916-1994) was a British actress and singer who gained fame for her performances on stage and in films during the mid-20th century. She was particularly celebrated for her portrayal of strong, independent women characters.
Another notable figure is Niomi Aróchena (1931-2020), a Mexican artist and activist who was renowned for her vibrant paintings and her dedication to promoting indigenous rights and cultural preservation in Mexico.
People
Niomi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Niomi 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
Niomi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Niomi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,201 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Niomi 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 285,391 US residents.
Is Niomi a common name?
We classify Niomi as "Rare". It ranks above 91.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,224 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Niomi most popular?
The single biggest year for Niomi was 2020, when 67 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Niomi is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Niomi a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Niomi 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.
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.