Novice
A beginner or someone new to a skill or position.
Name Census estimates that about 9 living Americans carry the first name Novice. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Novice today is around 85 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Novice births was 1921 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Novice. 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
- • The typical person named Novice is about 85 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Novices were born before 1951.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Novice. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
9
~ 1 in 38,083,815 Americans
Peak year
1921
10 babies that year
Average age
85
years old
1948 SSA rank
#5,805
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Novice: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Novice from the 1910s through to the 1940s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 47 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Novice 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 Novice during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Novices live
Origin
Meaning and history of Novice
The given name Novice has its origins in Latin, derived from the word "novitius," which means "new" or "inexperienced." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages, when it was commonly used to refer to those who had recently joined a religious order or monastery as novices, or new members undergoing training and initiation.
In the early Christian tradition, novices were individuals who had chosen to dedicate their lives to spiritual pursuits and were required to undergo a probationary period, typically lasting a year or more, before taking their final vows. During this time, they were expected to learn the rules and practices of the order, as well as develop the necessary spiritual and practical skills.
The name Novice gained prominence in religious contexts, particularly within monastic communities, where it was used to address those in the early stages of their religious journey. It carried a sense of humility and a recognition of the need for guidance and instruction, as novices were considered to be on a path of spiritual growth and learning.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Novice can be found in the writings of the Venerable Bede, an English monk and scholar who lived in the 7th and 8th centuries. In his historical works, Bede mentions several individuals referred to as "novices," indicating the name's usage within monastic circles during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Novice, though it has remained relatively uncommon as a given name outside of religious contexts. One such individual was Novice Green (1627-1676), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on theological and philosophical subjects.
Another prominent figure was Novice Fawcett (1886-1962), an American artist and painter known for her vibrant depictions of scenes from everyday life. Her works captured the spirit of her time and are celebrated for their vibrant colors and expressive brushstrokes.
In the realm of literature, Novice Decker (1920-1996) was an American author and poet who gained recognition for her poignant writings on the human experience. Her collections of poetry and prose explored themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning, resonating with readers across generations.
Novice Gallo (1932-2018) was an Italian artist and sculptor whose works were characterized by their bold forms and exploration of abstract concepts. His sculptures adorned public spaces and galleries around the world, leaving a lasting impact on the art world.
While the name Novice has its roots in religious contexts and was historically associated with those embarking on a spiritual journey, it has transcended its original meaning and has been adopted by individuals from various walks of life, each bringing their own unique perspectives and contributions to the world.
People
Novice + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Novice 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
Novice: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Novice?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 9 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Novice 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 38,083,815 US residents.
Is Novice a common name?
We classify Novice as "Very Rare". It ranks above 25.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 107 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Novice most popular?
The single biggest year for Novice was 1921, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Novice is about 85 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 Novice in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Novice a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Novice 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.
Is Novice still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Novice 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 Novice 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 Novice as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.