What Does the Name Nova Mean?
Nova is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning “"New".”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Nova |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Latin |
| Meaning | "New" |
| Variants | Novalee, Nova-Mae, Novella |
| Popularity | Rose sharply in the 2010s, entering the US top 50 for girls by the early 2020s. |
The meaning and origin of Nova
The name Nova means “"New"” and has Latin origins. From the Latin word 'novus' meaning 'new'; in astronomy a nova is a star that suddenly brightens. Its modern celestial association has driven its recent rise.
Variants and related names
Nova is related to several other names you may recognize: Novalee, Nova-Mae, Novella. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Nova?
Rose sharply in the 2010s, entering the US top 50 for girls by the early 2020s.
Popularity matters when you need believable test data: a name that fits the era or region you are modeling makes a generated profile look real. You can generate a complete fictional profile using the name Nova below.
Generate a fake Nova profile
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nova mean?+
The name Nova means “"New"” and is of Latin origin.
What is the origin of the name Nova?+
Nova originates from Latin.
Is Nova a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Nova has trended in the US over time.
Nova by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press