Find out how popular the first name Nubian has been for the last 23 years (from 1999 to 2021) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Nubian by gender

Based on the last 23 years of data, Nubian is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2021, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Nubian.

The history of the first name Nubian

Nubian is a given name derived from the ancient Nubian civilization that thrived along the Nile River in what is now Sudan and southern Egypt. The name has its origins in the Nubian language, which is a part of the Nilo-Saharan language family spoken by the Nubian people.

The Nubian civilization dates back to around the 8th century BC, and its influence extended throughout the region known as Nubia, stretching from Aswan in southern Egypt to Khartoum in central Sudan. The name Nubian is believed to be derived from the ancient Egyptian word "nb.t," which means "gold" or "golden," referring to the region's rich mineral resources.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Nubian can be found in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and texts from the New Kingdom period (c. 1550–1070 BC), where it was used to refer to the inhabitants of the Nubian region. The name also appears in Greek and Roman historical records, as the Nubian kingdoms were significant trading partners and sometimes adversaries of these ancient civilizations.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nubian. One of the earliest recorded figures was Nubian, a 5th-century Nubian king who ruled the Kingdom of Nobatia, located in what is now northern Sudan and southern Egypt. Another prominent figure was Nubian, a 12th-century Nubian poet and scholar who contributed to the literary and intellectual development of the region.

In more recent times, Nubian was the name of a 19th-century Nubian prince who played a significant role in the resistance against Ottoman rule in Sudan. Additionally, Nubian (1920-2002) was an American artist and activist who was a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement.

Another notable individual with the name Nubian was Nubian (1932-2018), a Sudanese diplomat and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Sudan from 1986 to 1989. He was a prominent figure in the country's political landscape and played a crucial role in the peace negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Nubian was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nubian, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!