Nivea
A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "snow-white" or "snowy".
Name Census estimates that about 1,296 living Americans carry the first name Nivea. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nivea today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nivea births was 2003 (92 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nivea. 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
1.3K
~ 1 in 264,471 Americans
Peak year
2003
92 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,472
Tracked since 1975
Popularity
Nivea: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nivea from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 532 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
Nivea 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 Nivea during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Niveas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 13 states and territories. Georgia, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Nivea, while Wisconsin, Mississippi, Tennessee recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 29 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nivea
The name Nivea has its roots in the Latin language and can be traced back to ancient Rome. The name is derived from the Latin word "niveus," which means "snow-white" or "snowy." This suggests that the name was originally associated with purity, innocence, and beauty.
The earliest recorded use of the name Nivea dates back to the 1st century AD, when it appeared in various Roman texts and inscriptions. It was often used as a feminine name, although there are instances of it being used as a masculine name as well. During this time, the Roman Empire was at its peak, and the name Nivea was considered a name of distinction, often given to children of noble or wealthy families.
One of the earliest notable figures to bear the name Nivea was Nivea Lucilla, a Roman noblewoman who lived in the 2nd century AD. She was known for her beauty and elegance, and her name became synonymous with grace and refinement.
In the Middle Ages, the name Nivea fell out of favor, but it resurfaced during the Renaissance period. During this time, the name was associated with the arts and literature, and several notable figures bore the name. One such figure was Nivea Buonarroti, an Italian poet and sister of the famous artist Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564).
Another notable figure with the name Nivea was Nivea Andreini (1562-1629), an Italian actress and playwright who was renowned for her performances in commedia dell'arte productions. She was considered one of the most talented actresses of her time and was celebrated for her beauty and grace.
In the 18th century, the name Nivea gained popularity in France, where it was often spelled as "Nivée." One famous French figure with this name was Nivée de Lenclos (1620-1705), a celebrated courtesan and writer who was known for her wit and intelligence.
As the name Nivea spread across Europe, it also became popular in other countries, such as Spain and Germany. One notable Spanish figure with the name was Nivea Carvajal (1900-1995), a renowned flamenco dancer and choreographer who helped popularize the art form worldwide.
In Germany, the name Nivea gained particular prominence when it was adopted by the cosmetics company Nivea in 1911. The company chose the name to represent the purity and gentleness of their products, further cementing the name's association with beauty and elegance.
People
Nivea + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nivea 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
Nivea: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nivea?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,296 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nivea 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 264,471 US residents.
Is Nivea a common name?
We classify Nivea as "Rare". It ranks above 91.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,321 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nivea most popular?
The single biggest year for Nivea was 2003, when 92 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nivea is about 20 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nivea a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nivea 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.