Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Naomi
GirlHebrew· “pleasantness”
- Meaning
- pleasantness
- Origin
- Hebrew
- Pronunciation
- nay-OH-mee
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #47
- US babies 2025
- 4,644
- Best rank
- #44 (2023)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Naomi
Naomi is a Hebrew name that means “pleasantness”.
Naomi is a Hebrew name meaning pleasantness. In the Book of Ruth, Naomi is the mother-in-law of Ruth, who famously refuses to leave her after both are widowed, saying that where Naomi goes she will go. After grief, Naomi asks to be called Mara, meaning bitter, so the name carries a story of loss and renewed joy. It was taken up by Puritans and has stayed in steady use. In Japanese, Naomi is also an independent name, written with characters of various meanings. The name is gentle and graceful, and Nomi is a possible nickname.
Popularity over time
Naomi has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #44 in 2023, and the most babies received it in 2025, when 4,644 were named Naomi. In 2025, 4,644 babies were named Naomi, and it ranked #47 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #134 in 1920, #271 in 1950, #210 in 1980, #183 in 2000, #95 in 2010, and #47 in 2025. Of the 191,547 US girls named Naomi since records began, 19% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 26,665 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Elena, Delilah, Eloise, Ivy, and Valentina.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Naomi ranked highest in Mississippi, District of Columbia, and Georgia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #13 | 56 |
| District of Columbia | #17 | 21 |
| Georgia | #18 | 212 |
| Maryland | #19 | 114 |
| South Carolina | #20 | 95 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Naomi is usually pronounced nay-OH-mee, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with N and ends in “-mi”.
Middle names for Naomi
A few middle names that flow with Naomi: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Naomi
Similar names
Abigail Girl
A-buh-gayl
“my father is joy” · Hebrew
#41
Delilah Girl
dih-LY-luh
“uncertain; possibly delicate” · Hebrew
#51
Maria Girl
muh-REE-uh
“form of Mary; meaning uncertain” · Latin
#87
Malia Girl
muh-LEE-uh
“Hawaiian form of Mary” · Hawaiian
#349
Azariah Unisex
a-zuh-RY-uh
“Yahweh has helped” · Hebrew
#630
Elisha Unisex
ih-LY-shuh
“my God is salvation” · Hebrew
#789
Hadassah Girl
huh-DAH-suh
“myrtle” · Hebrew
#570
Elia Girl
eh-LEE-uh
“my God is Yahweh” · Italian
#970
Keziah Girl
kuh-ZY-uh
“cassia tree” · Hebrew
#767
Dalila Girl
duh-LEE-luh
“form of Delilah, meaning uncertain” · Spanish
#1,528
Abagail Girl
AB-uh-gayl
“my father is joy” · Hebrew
#7,889
Adina Girl
uh-DEE-nuh
“delicate, gentle” · Hebrew
#1,250
Lists that include Naomi
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Naomi mean?
Naomi is a Hebrew name that means “pleasantness”.
What is the origin of the name Naomi?
Naomi has Hebrew roots. Naomi is a Hebrew name meaning pleasantness.
Is Naomi a popular name?
Yes. Naomi ranked #47 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Naomi a boy or girl name?
Naomi is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Naomi?
Naomi is usually pronounced nay-OH-mee. 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