Nowah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "brilliant" or "shining".
Name Census estimates that about 10 living Americans carry the first name Nowah. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Nowah today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nowah births was 2014 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nowah. 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 Nowah. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
10
~ 1 in 34,275,434 Americans
Peak year
2014
5 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2015 SSA rank
#13,499
Tracked since 2014
Popularity
Nowah: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Nowah 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 Nowah 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 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Nowah
The given name Nowah originates from the ancient Semitic languages, particularly Hebrew and Arabic. It is derived from the word "Nūḥ," which means "rest," "repose," or "calm." This name has a rich historical and cultural significance, particularly in the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
In the Hebrew Bible, Nowah (Noah) is the name of the famous patriarch who built the ark and survived the great flood. The story of Nowah is recounted in the book of Genesis, where he is portrayed as a righteous man chosen by God to save humanity and the animals from the impending deluge. This biblical account has made the name Nowah a symbol of hope, resilience, and divine protection.
The name Nowah also holds great significance in the Islamic tradition. In the Quran, Nowah is mentioned as a prophet who preached monotheism and warned his people about the consequences of their sinful ways. The story of Nowah and the ark is narrated in detail, and his name is often invoked as an example of faith, patience, and perseverance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nowah can be found in the ancient Sumerian cuneiform tablets, dating back to around 2000 BCE. These tablets mention a figure named "Nu'akh," which is believed to be a variation of the name Nowah.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nowah or its variations. One of the most famous was Nowah Webster (1758-1843), an American lexicographer and language scholar who authored the renowned "Webster's Dictionary." Another notable figure was Nowah Pitt (1796-1843), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.
In the literary world, Nowah Gordon (1916-1937) was an American poet and playwright whose works explored themes of social justice and the African American experience. Nowah Beery (1882-1946), an American actor, is also remembered for his roles in numerous films during the silent and early sound eras of Hollywood.
Lastly, Nowah Levine (1910-1992) was a prominent American biochemist who made significant contributions to the understanding of enzyme kinetics and metabolism. He was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Science in 1986 for his pioneering work.
People
Nowah + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nowah 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
Nowah: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nowah?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 10 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nowah 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 34,275,434 US residents.
Is Nowah a common name?
We classify Nowah as "Very Rare". It ranks above 28.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 10 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nowah most popular?
The single biggest year for Nowah was 2014, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nowah is about 11 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 Nowah in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Nowah a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nowah 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 Nowah still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Nowah 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 Nowah 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 are called Nowah?
You can see how many people share the name Nowah on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.