Let’s talk about Nevada baby names.
It’s a state of contrasts. The 36th state to join the United States, Nevada is known for the glitz of Las Vegas, but also for sprawling deserts and soaring mountains. Tourism and hospitality drive the state’s economy, suggesting many of us have been to Nevada – but that often means Vegas vacations and conferences.
Then again, the state ranks seventh out of 50 in terms of area, but only 31st by population. The overwhelming majority of Nevadans – around 3/4 total – live in the metro area of Las Vegas and surrounding Clark County.
Fun fact: the state’s official element is neon. And the name Ace makes the state’s Top 100.
But that’s not the only factor driving names in the Silver State.
Before the arrival of Europeans, indigenous tribes made their homes here for millennia. Their language and culture echoes across the map still, though less than 2% of residents identify as such today.
Around 30% of Nevadans identify as Hispanic or Latino, a fact reflected in the state’s most popular names.
Let’s dive in to everything Nevada baby names, starting with the state itself.
NEVADA AS A BABY NAME
While its not Georgia or even Carolina, Nevada has a long history as a given name.
It comes from the Spanish adjective Nevada, meaning snow-covered. The Sierra Nevada mountains are “snowy mountains.”
The Sierra Nevada mountains do touch the state, though they’re mainly located in neighboring California.
As it happens, “snowy mountains” are pretty familiar, and other mountain ranges in Spanish-speaking countries share the name, including one in Spain.
There’s at least one notable Nevadan named for her state of birth, mystery fiction author Nevada Barr. Born in Yerington, she started her career as a park ranger in Mississippi before launching a series of novels about a park ranger who solves mysteries.
As of 2024, 37 girls and 11 boys were named Nevada. It has appeared in the girls’ data set since 1880, and the boys’ data since 1953.
TOP TEN BOY NAMES IN NEVADA
10. JULIAN (#30 in the US)
A classic name that over-performs in the state, possibly because it’s more popular with Latino parents in the US.
9. BENJAMIN (#11 in the US)
Big across the US.
8. EZRA (#13 in the US)
A slight overperformance for Ezra.
7. OLIVER (#3 in the US)
Oliver falls to make way for other favorites.
6. ELIJAH (#8 in the US)
Like Ezra, this Biblical name is a bit more common in Nevada.
5. SANTIAGO (#29 in the US)
Another name that reflects the state’s Latino roots and current population.
4. SEBASTIAN (#14 in the US)
Like Julian, this name is a favorite English-Spanish crossover.
3. NOAH (#2 in the US)
A perpetual Top Ten name in recent years.
2. MATEO (#7 in the US)
Not to sound like a broken record, but once again, the state’s heavy Spanish-speaking population has pushed Mateo to the top of the charts.
1. LIAM (#1 in the US)
We think of Liam as quintessentially Irish, and it is – but it also sounds great in Spanish.
TOP 100 NEVADA BOY NAMES
- Liam
- Mateo
- Noah
- Sebastian
- Santiago
- Elijah
- Oliver
- Ezra
- Benjamin
- Julian
- Elias
- Ezekiel
- Levi
- Michael
- Lucas
- Anthony
- Luca
- James
- Alexander
- William
- Isaac
- Daniel
- Enzo
- Ethan
- Adriel*
- Isaiah
- Matthew
- Thiago
- Roman
- Adrian
- Aiden
- Asher
- Emiliano
- Grayson
- Jacob
- Samuel
- Dylan
- Gabriel
- Logan
- David
- Hudson
- Theodore
- Gael
- Nathan
- Caleb
- Leo
- Luke
- Axel
- Jackson
- Henry
- Owen
- Angel
- Jayden
- Mason
- Christian
- Damian*
- Jack
- Joseph
- Leonardo
- Maverick
- Xavier*
- Aaron
- Joshua
- Atlas*
- Thomas
- Christopher
- Miles
- Carter
- Andrew
- Kai
- Josiah
- Wyatt
- Dominic
- Austin*
- Carlos*
- Jeremiah
- John
- Giovanni*
- Jose
- Lorenzo*
- Rowan
- Jaxon
- Luka
- Matteo*
- Alejandro*
- Ivan*
- Jonathan
- Micah
- Vincent*
- Beau
- Cameron
- Emilio*
- Wesley
- Ace*
- Cooper
- Jameson*
- Jordan*
- Juan*
- Eli
- Theo
* indicates that the name does not appear in the current US Top 100
TOP TEN GIRL NAMES IN NEVADA
10. ELIANA (#18 in the US)
Flowing, romantic name rising quickly.
9. SOFIA (#10 in the US)
Both Sofia and Sophia are favorite English-Spanish crossovers.
8. LUNA (#13 in the US)
A nature name succeeding for so many reasons.
7. EMMA (#2 in the US)
A long-time favorite slightly less common in Nevada.
6. AMELIA (#3 in the US)
As with Emma, Amelia is a few steps back in the Silver State.
5. CAMILA (#11 in the US)
Name with Ancient Roman roots, big with Spanish-speaking families in the US now.
4. MIA (#5 in the US)
Powerfully popular mini name.
3. SOPHIA (#6 in the US)
A classic serving to define names for this generation. It’s the early 21st century equivalent of their parents’ Sarah/Sara.
2. ISABELLA (#7 in the US)
Elaborate, bilingual, and heard across the US.
1. OLIVIA (#1 in the US)
It’s never surprising to see Olivia in the top spot.
TOP 100 NEVADA GIRL NAMES
- Olivia
- Isabella
- Sophia
- Mia
- Camila
- Amelia
- Emma
- Luna
- Sofia
- Eliana
- Aurora
- Violet
- Gianna
- Charlotte
- Ava
- Valentina
- Aria
- Scarlett
- Penelope
- Emily
- Delilah
- Evelyn
- Harper
- Victoria
- Elizabeth
- Emilia
- Genesis
- Chloe
- Lily
- Avery
- Athena
- Ellie
- Hazel
- Ivy
- Elena
- Leilani
- Mila
- Naomi
- Grace
- Layla
- Maya
- Jade
- Stella
- Alice
- Natalia
- Catalina
- Isla
- Zoe
- Aaliyah
- Eleanor
- Hannah
- Valeria*
- Bella
- Ella
- Lucia
- Madison
- Zoey
- Abigail
- Ariana
- Lucy
- Nora
- Nova
- Valerie
- Everly
- Serenity*
- Alina*
- Amara*
- Melody
- Ashley*
- Ayla
- Daisy
- Jasmine*
- Lainey
- Liliana
- Amaya*
- Brooklyn
- Juniper*
- Josephine
- Melanie*
- Sadie
- Sage*
- Sophie
- Willow
- Samantha*
- Adeline
- Ailany*
- Anastasia*
- Andrea*
- Arabella*
- Autumn
- Kennedy
- Leah
- Quinn
- Lia*
- Paisley
- Presley*
- Ximena*
- Audrey
- Celeste*
- Dahlia*
* indicates that the name does not appear in the current US Top 100
DISTINCTIVE NEVADA PLACE NAMES
CARSON
Named after American frontiersman Kit Carson, this is the state’s capital. The Carson Range spur of the Sierra Nevada mountains is also located in the state.
CLARK
The most populous county in the state, Clark County is about the same size as New Jersey. The name is a nod to mining magnate William A. Clark. He served as a senator from Montana and built the railroad that allowed the area to develop at the turn of the 20th century.
ESMERALDA
The sparsely-populated county got its name from a California transplant who came here to mine silver. He was inspired by the character in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
FALLON
A small town named for ranchers Michael and Eliza Fallon.
HENDERSON
The second-largest city in Nevada.
JUNIPER
The Juniper Draw Trail runs through Cathedral Gorge State Park.
LYON
A county, and one of many US place names honoring Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general to die in the Civil War.
RAFAEL
From Rancho San Rafael Park, near Reno.
SLOAN
From Sloan Canyon Petroglyph site, part of a national conservation area.
WHEELER
Wheeler Peak is located in Great Basin National Park.
NAMES FROM NEVADA HISTORY AND SYMBOLS
BLUE
Borrowed from the state’s official bird, the Mountain bluebird. Silver and blue are the state’s official colors.
CHANCE
The Gila Monster mascot of the Vegas Golden Knights ice hockey team is named Chance.
ELVIS, PRESLEY
The entertainer’s Vegas roots run deep, even if Memphis is his home.
OPAL
From the state’s official gemstone, the Virgin Valley Black Fire Opal.
SAGE
Sagebrush is the state flower.
SILVER
Nevada is known as the Silver State because of mining. Ever since the Comstock Lode’s discovery in 1859, the state has been among the US’s biggest sources of silver, second only to Alaska today.
FAMOUS NEVADANS
AMY
Born in Las Vegas, Amy Michelle Purdy became a Paralympics medalist in snowboarding and activist.
ANDRE
Tennis great Andre Agassi was born in Las Vegas.
BRYCE
Professional baseball player Bryce Harper made his name with the Philadelphia Phillies, but he calls Nevada home.
CAREY
Professional freestyle motorcycle racer and motocross competitor Cary Hart is also known as the husband of singer Pink.
EMMET
Emmet Boyle was the 13th governor of Nevada, and the first born in the state.
FRANCISCO
The first European to explore the area, Francisco Garces was a missionary and explorer, as well as a member of the Franciscan religious order.
MADCHEN
Actress Mädchen Amick was born in Sparks, Nevada. Her parents chose her unusual first name to honor their German roots. Mädchen is the German word for girl.
MARION
Marion Jones Farquhar became an accomplished women’s tennis player, winning the women’s singles title in 1899 and 1902 at the US Championships. She was the first American woman to win an Olympic medal. While much of her life took place in California and New York, her father was a senator from Nevada.
RAFAEL, RAPHAEL
A number of Nevada locations are named for Raphael Rivera, a New Mexican scout who accidentally discovered the Las Vegas Valley when his scouting party went in search of water.
RENO
During the 1940s and 50s, actress Josephine Clarke took the stage name Reno Browne, borrowing it from the city. The city was named for US Army officer Jesse Reno. An accomplished rider and licensed pilot, she starred in a number of Westerns in the era, had her own radio show for a while, and enjoyed all sorts of midcentry fame: a comic book character sharing her name, and a single credited to “Reno Browne and Her Buckaroos.”
RUTINA
Actress Rutina Wesley, the daughter of Las Vegas performers, has appeared in True Blood, The Last of Us, and Queen Sugar, to name just a few.
