Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Nadia
GirlRussian, Slavic· “hope”
- Meaning
- hope
- Origin
- Russian, Slavic
- Pronunciation
- NAHD-yuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #565
- US babies 2025
- 531
- Best rank
- #178 (2005)
- Peak year
- 2005
Meaning and origin of Nadia
Nadia is a Russian and Slavic name that means “hope”.
Nadia comes from Nadya, the Russian pet form of Nadezhda, which means hope. The name spread through French and other European languages in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It also has an independent Arabic counterpart, Nadiya, meaning moist with dew or generous, so it is well used in Arabic-speaking families too. The Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci made the name widely known around the world. Nadia feels warm, cosmopolitan and slightly retro, and it works across many languages and cultures. The spellings Nadya and Nadiya are also common.
Other spellings with the same sound: Nadja.
Popularity over time
Nadia first appears in US Social Security records in 1911. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 50 different years, starting in 1976. Its best national rank was #178 in 2005, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,923 babies. In 2025, 531 babies were named Nadia, and it ranked #565 nationally. That is 44% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #3,528 in 1920, #2,166 in 1950, #410 in 1980, #256 in 2000, #249 in 2010, and #565 in 2025. Of the 46,556 US girls named Nadia since records began, 34% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 9,868 babies. Since 2010, 13,686 more have been named Nadia.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kyra, Jasmin, Delaney, Julianna, and Kyla.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Nadia ranked highest in Minnesota, New Mexico, and New Jersey.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | #260 | 22 |
| New Mexico | #366 | 5 |
| New Jersey | #370 | 22 |
| Maryland | #372 | 15 |
| Iowa | #376 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Nadia is usually pronounced NAHD-yuh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with N and ends in “-ia”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Nadja.
Middle names for Nadia
A few middle names that flow with Nadia: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nadia
Similar names
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Lists that include Nadia
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nadia mean?
Nadia is a Russian and Slavic name that means “hope”.
What is the origin of the name Nadia?
Nadia has Russian, Slavic, and Arabic roots. Nadia comes from Nadya, the Russian pet form of Nadezhda, which means hope.
Is Nadia a popular name?
Yes. Nadia ranked #565 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Nadia a boy or girl name?
Nadia is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Nadia?
Nadia is usually pronounced NAHD-yuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings