Nero
A male given name from Latin, more common in fiction than in real life.
Every Nero since 1914 — 526 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Nero
Nero is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,815 in 2025 with 21 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1914, 526 American babies have been named Nero. Its peak came in 2023, when 39 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Nero stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Nero year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | #4,815 |
| 2024 | 29 | #3,864 |
| 2023 | 39 | #3,160 |
| 2022 | 25 | #4,257 |
| 2021 | 33 | #3,470 |
| 2020 | 14 | #6,194 |
| 2019 | 30 | #3,691 |
| 2018 | 23 | #4,449 |
| 2017 | 26 | #4,062 |
| 2016 | 18 | #5,263 |
| 2015 | 22 | #4,503 |
| 2014 | 18 | #5,201 |
| 2013 | 21 | #4,569 |
| 2012 | 16 | #5,647 |
| 2011 | 19 | #4,934 |
| 2010 | 12 | #6,970 |
| 2009 | 9 | #8,786 |
| 2008 | — | — |
| 2007 | 7 | #10,552 |
| 2006 | 7 | #10,338 |
| 2005 | 6 | #11,068 |
| 2004 | 6 | #10,922 |
| 2003 | — | — |
| 2002 | — | — |
| 2001 | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1995 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1985 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1975 | — | — |
| 1970 | 6 | #4,573 |
| 1965 | 5 | #4,272 |
| 1960 | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | 6 | #3,535 |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | 5 | #4,705 |
| 1920 | 7 | #3,716 |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Nero
- Nero Politician · 37–68
- Nero Claudius Drusus Military personnel · -38–-9
- Nero Julius Caesar Politician · 6–31
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nero mean?
A male given name from Latin, more common in fiction than in real life.
How popular is the name Nero in 2025?
Nero ranked #4,815 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 21 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Nero?
526 babies have been named Nero in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Nero most popular?
Nero peaked in 2023, when 39 newborns received the name.
Is Nero a boy or girl name?
Nero is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Nero rising or falling?
Nero is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Nero?
Well-known people named Nero include Nero (politician), Nero Claudius Drusus (military personnel), Nero Julius Caesar (politician).