Neutral names starting with N: Difference between revisions

'''Nagisa''' (なぎさ). Japanese. Meaning "Water's edge" (汀), "Long ago" (夙), "Beach" (渚), or other meanings depending on the ''kanji'' spelling chosen. The choice of kanji can influence whether it's seen as a feminine, masculine, or neutral name. 渚 is a neutral spelling.<ref>http://japanesenameguide.blogspot.com/2009/11/nagisa.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20180902203607/http://japanesenameguide.blogspot.com/2009/11/nagisa.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nagisa/submitted [https://web.archive.org/web/20230528153538/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nagisa/submitted Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> In the USA, only about 60 people have had this name.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NA/NAGISA/index.html</ref> Keywords: places, three syllables, water

'''Nao''' (なお). Japanese. In Japan, this can be short for the Japanese neutral name Naomi,<ref>https://japanesenameguide.blogspot.com/2009/09/list-of-all-unisex-names_30.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20200217041242/http://japanesenameguide.blogspot.com:80/2009/09/list-of-all-unisex-names_30.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> feminine name Naoko,<ref>https://japanesenameguide.blogspot.com/2009/09/list-of-all-feminine-names.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20200217041227/http://japanesenameguide.blogspot.com:80/2009/09/list-of-all-feminine-names.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> or the masculine names Naoto or Naoya.<ref>http://japanesenameguide.blogspot.com/2009/09/list-of-all-masculine-names.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20200217041237/http://japanesenameguide.blogspot.com:80/2009/09/list-of-all-masculine-names.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> The meaning depends on which ''kanji'' characters with similar pronunciations are chosen to write it. One meaning that one can choose is "Straight" (直 ''nao''). One can construct other meanings from other ''kanji'' combinations to best suit one's personality.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nao [https://web.archive.org/web/20230604172219/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nao Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref name="20knames4">https://www.20000-names.com/androgynous_names_unisex_names_04.htm [https://web.archive.org/web/20230611030806/http://www.20000-names.com/androgynous_names_unisex_names_04.htm Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> United States Social Security Administration (SSA) data shows about 93 people with this name, used as a feminine name 87% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NA/NAO/index.html</ref> Keywords: one syllable, two syllables

'''Naomi''' 1. (なおみ). Japanese. This name is gender neutral in Japan. Meaning depends on which ''kanji'' characters with similar pronunciations are chosen to write it. A more feminine meaning that one can choose is "Straight" (直 ''nao'') and "Beautiful" (美 ''mi''). A more masculine meaning that one can choose is "Straight" (直 ''nao'') and "Self" (己 ''mi''). One can construct other meanings from other ''kanji'' combinations to best suit one's personality.<ref name="naomi">https://www.behindthename.com/name/naomi-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230327151442/https://www.behindthename.com/name/naomi-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref> http://japanesenameguide.blogspot.com/2009/10/naomi.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20180902203607/http://japanesenameguide.blogspot.com/2009/10/naomi.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> 2. (נָעֳמִי). Hebrew. Feminine. A Biblical name. Meaning "Pleasantness."<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/naomi-1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230615233941/https://www.behindthename.com/name/naomi-1 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Most of the Western world uses the feminine Hebrew version of this name, so it is generally not gender neutral outside of Japan. US SSA data shows about 99,175 people with this name, used as a feminine name 100% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NA/NAOMI/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20210728093339/https://mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NA/NAOMI/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: feminine inclined, three syllables

'''Naphtali''' (נַפְתָלִי). Hebrew. Meaning "My struggle, my strife." A name of some men in the Bible. Traditionally masculine.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/naphtali [https://web.archive.org/web/20230227123214/https://www.behindthename.com/name/naphtali Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/naphtali [https://web.archive.org/web/20230202105725/https://babynames.com/name/naphtali Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 243 people with this name, used as a masculine name 67% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NA/NAPHTALI/index.html</ref> Keywords: battle, Biblical, gothic, neutral inclined, three syllables, very rare

'''Nat'''. English. Short form of Nathan, Natalie, or other names beginning with Nat.<ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/nat [https://web.archive.org/web/20160731153247/http://www.babynames.com:80/name/Nat Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: one syllable. Notable nonbinary people with this name include activist [[Nat Titman]].

'''Natividad'''. Spanish. Meaning "Nativity."<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/natividad [https://web.archive.org/web/20220701134715/https://www.behindthename.com/name/natividad Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/natividad [https://web.archive.org/web/20160822205237/http://www.babynames.com:80/name/Natividad Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 2,300 people with this name, used as a feminine name 53% of the time, meaning it is very neutral.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NA/NATIVIDAD/index.html</ref> Keywords: Christian, four syllables, neutral inclined, uncommon

'''Nature'''. English. Modern. Meaning "The inherent character or basic constitution of a person or thing," or "The external world" in English.<ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/nature [https://web.archive.org/web/20151117223911/http://www.babynames.com:80/name/Nature Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref>US SSA data shows about 260 people with this name, used as a feminine name 81% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NA/NATURE/index.html</ref> Keywords: feminine inclined, modern, nature, two syllables, very rare

'''Naveen'''. Indian. A traditionally masculine variant transcription of the masculine Indian name Navin. Meaning "New" in Sanskrit.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/naveen [https://web.archive.org/web/20230603144404/https://www.behindthename.com/name/naveen Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/navin [https://web.archive.org/web/20220523090228/https://www.behindthename.com/name/navin Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/naveen [https://web.archive.org/web/20210411010348/https://www.babynames.com/name/NAVEEN Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 1,044 people with this name, used as a masculine name 79% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NA/NAVEEN/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20180128102301/http://www.mynamestats.com:80/First-Names/N/NA/NAVEEN/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: two syllables, uncommon

'''Nevada'''. American English. From the name of the US State. Meaning "Snow-capped" in Spanish. Nevada enjoyed some popularity as a feminine name during the 1880s.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nevada [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213084857/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nevada Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref name="20knames4" /><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/nevada [https://web.archive.org/web/20221203060830/https://babynames.com/name/nevada Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 2,267 people with this name, used as a feminine name 80% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NE/NEVADA/index.html</ref> Keywords: earth, mountains, three syllables, travel, uncommon, Victorian era, winter

'''Nicky'''. English. Short form of Nicholas or Nicole, which ultimately derive from the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning "victory of the people".<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nicky [https://web.archive.org/web/20230323194701/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nicky Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref name="20knames4" /> US SSA data shows about 7,892 people named Nicky, used as a masculine name 79% of the time, which is fairly gender neutral.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NI/NICKY/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20171027053754/http://www.mynamestats.com:80/First-Names/N/NI/NICKY/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> However, the variant Nicki is almost exclusively feminine: of about 5,850 people named Nicki in the SSA data, it was used as a feminine name 96% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NI/NICKI/index.html</ref> Keywords: battle, two syllables, uncommon. Notable nonbinary people with this name include game developer [[Nicky Case]].

'''Nicola''' or '''Nikola'''. English, German, and Italian. A form of Nicholas. In English and German, Nicola is feminine, but in Italian, it is masculine. Short form: Nico or Nick.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nicola-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230220180859/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nicola-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nicola-1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230323194701/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nicola-1 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/nicola [https://web.archive.org/web/20210427205926/https://babynames.com/name/NICOLA Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> The English masculine name Nicholas comes from the Greek masculine name Nikolaos (Νικόλαος), meaning "Victory of the people." A saint name.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nicholas [https://web.archive.org/web/20230705133504/http://www.behindthename.com/name/nicholas Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 6,737 people named Nicola, used as a feminine name 67% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NI/NICOLA/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20220808160457/https://mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NI/NICOLA/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> For the variant '''Nikola''', SSA data shows about 2,352 people named Nikola, used as a masculine name 77% of the time. <ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NI/NICOLA/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20220808160457/https://mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NI/NICOLA/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: auspicious, battle, three syllables, uncommon

'''Nike''' (Νίκη). Greek. Meaning "Victory" in ancient Greek. Nike was the Greek goddess of victory. The ancient Greek pronunciation of this name was "nee-keh." The sports brand Nike has popularized the pronunciation "nee-kae"<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nike [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213083248/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nike Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/nike [https://web.archive.org/web/20221031142648/https://babynames.com/name/Nike Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 205 people with this name, used as a masculine name 50% of the time, making this a very gender neutral name.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NI/NIKE/index.html</ref> Keywords: auspicious, battle, neutral inclined, two syllables, very rare

'''Nikita'''. This name is masculine in some cultures, and feminine in others. 1. (Никита). Russian. Masculine. A form of the Greek name Niketas (Νικήτας). Meaning "Winner, victor." Niketas is a saint name. In Russian, the short form of Nikita is Nika. 2. (Нікіта). Ukranian and Belarusian. Masculine. A form of Niketas.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nikita-1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230310101856/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nikita-1 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/niketas [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213080311/https://www.behindthename.com/name/niketas Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/nikita [https://web.archive.org/web/20210422150544/https://babynames.com/name/Nikita Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> 3. (निकिता). Indian (Marathi and Hindi). Feminine. Meaning "House, habitation" in Sanskrit.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nikita-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230615075125/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nikita-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 11,964 people with this name, used as a feminine name 84% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NI/NIKITA/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20221212180635/https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NI/NIKITA/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: common, feminine inclined, three syllables

'''Noa'''. This name is masculine in some cultures, and feminine in others. 1. (נוֹעָה). Hebrew. A masculine form of the Biblical Hebrew masculine name Noach (נֹחַ), usually transliterated into English as Noah, who built the ark; meaning "Rest, repose." The spelling Noa is modern in English, but is often used in Croatian, Dutch, French, Hawaiian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Interestingly, another Biblical Hebrew feminine name is usually transliterated into English as Noah, but is spelled differently from the masculine name in Hebrew. No'ah (נֹעָה), meaning "Motion," was the name of a woman in the Hebrew Bible.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/noa-1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230517233352/https://www.behindthename.com/name/noa-1 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/noa-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230517233347/https://www.behindthename.com/name/noa-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/noah-1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230604102841/https://www.behindthename.com/name/noah-1 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/noah-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230517234518/https://www.behindthename.com/name/noah-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> 2. Japanese. This name is gender neutral in Japan. Meaning depends on which ''kanji'' characters with similar pronunciations are chosen to write it. One meaning that one can choose is "Of affection" (乃愛). One can construct other meanings from other ''kanji'' combinations to best suit one's personality.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/noa-3 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230517234520/https://www.behindthename.com/name/noa-3 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 4,069 people with this name, used as a feminine name 74% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NO/NOA/index.html</ref> Keywords: Biblical, two syllables, uncommon

'''Noam''' (נוֹעַם). Hebrew. Meaning "Pleasantness." In Israel, about 1,505 people use this as a masculine name, and about 372 people use this as a feminine name.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/noam [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213082842/https://www.behindthename.com/name/noam Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref name="20knames4" /><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/noam [https://web.archive.org/web/20230605164420/https://babynames.com/name/Noam Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 1,739 people with this name, used as a masculine name 89% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NO/NOAM/index.html</ref> Keywords: masculine inclined, uncommon

'''Noel'''. English. An English neutral form of the French masculine name "Noël" meaning "Christmas" in French.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/noel [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213082215/https://www.behindthename.com/name/noel Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/noe12l [https://web.archive.org/web/20230628171457/https://www.behindthename.com/name/noe12l Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/noel [https://web.archive.org/web/20220813122044/https://babynames.com/name/noel Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> The US is one of the only countries where Noel is neutral. SSA data shows about 46,230 people named Noel, used as a masculine name 75% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NO/NOEL/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20210728105846/https://mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NO/NOEL/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> However, the variant spelling Noelle is pretty exclusively feminine at this time, even in the US: SSA data shows 27,237 people named Noelle, used as a feminine name 100% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NO/NOELLE/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20190812213012/http://www.mynamestats.com:80/First-Names/N/NO/NOELLE/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> Keywords: Christian, common, light-hearted, two syllables, winter.

'''Noor'''. 1. (نور). Arabic and Urdu. Noor is a gender-neutral alternative transcription of the gender-neutral name '''Nur'''. Meaning "light" in Arabic. In Islam, ''al-Nur'' ("the light") is one of the names of Allah.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/noor-1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230213074641/https://www.behindthename.com/name/noor-1 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nur [https://web.archive.org/web/20230530102625/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nur Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref name="20knames4" /><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/noor [https://web.archive.org/web/20160602095628/http://www.babynames.com:80/name/Noor Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> 2. Dutch and Limburgish. A feminine short form of the feminine name Eleonora, which ultimately comes from the ancient Germanic feminine name Aenor, the meaning of which is unknown.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/noor-2 [https://web.archive.org/web/20230325101227/https://www.behindthename.com/name/noor-2 Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/eleonora [https://web.archive.org/web/20230328011758/https://www.behindthename.com/name/eleonora Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/aenor [https://web.archive.org/web/20230624165209/https://www.behindthename.com/name/aenor Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 4,901 people named Noor, used as a feminine name 89% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NO/NOOR/index.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20171110220909/http://www.mynamestats.com:80/First-Names/N/NO/NOOR/index.html Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 395 people named Nur, used as a feminine name 74% of the time.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NU/NUR/index.html</ref> Keywords: feminine inclined, light, one syllable, uncommon.  

'''Nuri''' (نوري). Arabic. Meaning "My light" in Arabic.<ref>https://www.behindthename.com/name/nuri [https://web.archive.org/web/20220813174908/https://www.behindthename.com/name/nuri Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref><ref>https://www.babynames.com/name/nuri [https://web.archive.org/web/20220808004342/https://babynames.com/name/nuri Archived] on 17 July 2023</ref> US SSA data shows about 384 people with this name, used as a masculine name 55% of the time, meaning that even though this name is traditionally masculine, it is currently very gender neutral.<ref>https://www.mynamestats.com/First-Names/N/NU/NUR/index.html</ref> Keywords: neutral inclined, two syllables, very rare.