How to say it
NOH · vuh
ˈnoʊ.və
Feminine
Nova
New, bright star
What it means
From the Latin nova, feminine of novus (new). Astronomers borrowed the word in the 16th century for a 'new star' (stella nova) suddenly appearing in the sky.
Nova as a given name is genuinely recent. The modern wave started around 2010, and Nova entered the US top hundred for girls in 2017. The astronomical meaning gave the name its celestial mood, and it often appears alongside other star-and-sky names like Luna, Aurora, Stella, and Willow in sibling sets. Marvel's Nova comic character and various pop-culture mentions added cultural weight. Rarely shortened; two syllables is itself short enough.
How to spell Nova
The standard spelling is Nova. Common variants include Novah, but Nova is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #32 in 2021, currently #46 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
- Worth knowing
Chevrolet sold a Nova in Latin America in the 70s; the urban legend that the name flopped because 'no va' means 'doesn't go' is mostly false, but the joke still surfaces in Spanish-speaking communities.
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.
- Nova Peris Australian former Olympic gold medalist and senator
Spelling variants
- Novah
Names with the same feeling
See Nova from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Nova mean?
- From the Latin nova, feminine of novus (new). Astronomers borrowed the word in the 16th century for a 'new star' (stella nova) suddenly appearing in the sky.
- What does Nova mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Nova means "New, bright star." Nova as a given name is genuinely recent. The modern wave started around 2010, and Nova entered the US top hundred for girls in 2017. The astronomical meaning gave the name its celestial mood, and it often appears alongside other star-and-sky names like Luna, Aurora, Stella, and Willow in sibling sets. Marvel's Nova comic character and various pop-culture mentions added cultural weight. Rarely shortened; two syllables is itself short enough.
- How do you pronounce Nova?
- Nova is pronounced ˈnoʊ.və. Say it as NOH-vuh, with the stress on the "noh" syllable.
- How do you spell Nova?
- The standard spelling is Nova. Common spelling variants include Novah.
- Is Nova a boy or girl name?
- Nova is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Nova?
- Nova ranked #46 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.