How to say it
NO · a
ˈnoʊ.ə
Unisex
Noa
Motion, movement
What it means
Hebrew Noʿa, 'motion' or 'movement.' Noa was the eldest of the five daughters of Zelophehad in the Hebrew Bible (Numbers 27), who successfully petitioned Moses for the right to inherit their father's land. Distinct from masculine Noah.
Noa is a Hebrew feminine name, distinct from the masculine Noah. It comes from the Hebrew Noʿa (נֹעָה), meaning 'motion' or 'movement.' In the Hebrew Bible, Noa was the eldest of the five daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27, who successfully petitioned Moses for the right to inherit their father's land in the absence of male heirs (a foundational text in Jewish women's inheritance law). Noa has been a top-three girls' name in Israel for years. Achinoam Nini (stage name Noa), the Israeli-Yemenite singer (born 1969), is a contemporary cultural anchor. As a US given name Noa is climbing post-2015 with the broader Israeli-Jewish naming influence; it entered the US top 500 in 2019. Single short; Noa is already a short.
How to spell Noa
The standard spelling is Noa. Common variants include Noah, but Noa is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #226 in 2025, currently #226 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #981 in 2024, currently #1006 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
NO-ah, two syllables. Identical pronunciation to the masculine Noah in English; the spelling distinction is the gender cue.
- Spelling
Noa (feminine, Hebrew Noʿa) and Noah (masculine, Hebrew Noach) are different names with different roots that converge phonetically in English.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Achinoam Nini (Noa) Israeli-Yemenite singer, born 1969
- Noa (daughter of Zelophehad) Hebrew biblical figure, eldest of five sisters who petitioned for inheritance rights (Numbers 27)
Spelling variants
- Noah
Names with the same feeling
See Noa from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Noa mean?
- Hebrew Noʿa, 'motion' or 'movement.' Noa was the eldest of the five daughters of Zelophehad in the Hebrew Bible (Numbers 27), who successfully petitioned Moses for the right to inherit their father's land. Distinct from masculine Noah.
- What does Noa mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Noa means "Motion, movement." Noa is a Hebrew feminine name, distinct from the masculine Noah. It comes from the Hebrew Noʿa (נֹעָה), meaning 'motion' or 'movement.' In the Hebrew Bible, Noa was the eldest of the five daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27, who successfully petitioned Moses for the right to inherit their father's land in the absence of male heirs (a foundational text in Jewish women's inheritance law). Noa has been a top-three girls' name in Israel for years. Achinoam Nini (stage name Noa), the Israeli-Yemenite singer (born 1969), is a contemporary cultural anchor. As a US given name Noa is climbing post-2015 with the broader Israeli-Jewish naming influence; it entered the US top 500 in 2019. Single short; Noa is already a short.
- How do you pronounce Noa?
- Noa is pronounced ˈnoʊ.ə. Say it as NO-a, with the stress on the "no" syllable.
- How do you spell Noa?
- The standard spelling is Noa. Common spelling variants include Noah.
- Is Noa a boy or girl name?
- Noa is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Noa?
- Noa ranked #226 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.