UK girl's name
Nerea
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "woman from the sea".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nerea is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nerea popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 7 births.
This profile covers 57 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 2001 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 71% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 57 living people in the UK are called Nerea. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nerea ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 7 girls were registered as Nerea.
- • About 57 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nerea as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
2022
7 births
Estimated living
57
2026
Meaning
What does Nerea mean?
The given name Nerea originates from the Basque region of Spain and France. It is derived from the Basque word "nere", meaning "my" or "mine". The name is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, around the 10th or 11th century.
Nerea has its roots in the Basque culture and language, which has been spoken in the Pyrenees region of Spain and France for centuries. The name is closely associated with the Basque people and their traditions, reflecting their unique identity and connection to the land.
While the name Nerea does not appear prominently in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been used by the Basque people for generations. The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the Middle Ages, though exact records are scarce due to the oral nature of the Basque language and culture.
One of the first notable individuals with the name Nerea was Nerea Gamara, a Basque noblewoman who lived in the 15th century. She was known for her involvement in the political affairs of her time and her efforts to preserve Basque traditions.
In the 16th century, Nerea Arratibel was a prominent Basque writer and poet whose works celebrated the beauty of the Basque countryside and the resilience of her people. Her poetry helped to preserve the Basque language and culture during a period of upheaval.
The 17th century saw the rise of Nerea Urrutia, a renowned Basque artist who created intricate wood carvings and sculptures that depicted scenes from Basque folklore and daily life. Her works are considered masterpieces of Basque art and are displayed in museums across the region.
In the 19th century, Nerea Aizpurua was a Basque educator and activist who fought for the rights of women and the preservation of the Basque language in schools. Her efforts helped to ensure the survival of the Basque culture and language during a time of increasing pressure for assimilation.
More recently, Nerea Aranburu was a Basque singer and songwriter who gained popularity in the late 20th century for her modern interpretations of traditional Basque folk songs. Her music helped to introduce the Basque culture to a wider audience and inspired a new generation of Basque artists.
Throughout its history, the name Nerea has been a symbol of the enduring spirit and cultural identity of the Basque people. It reflects their deep connection to their homeland, language, and traditions, and serves as a testament to the resilience of their culture.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nerea over time
The chart below shows babies named Nerea registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nerea, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nerea by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nerea was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4127 | 20 | 4 |
| 2010s | #5096 | 22 | 6 |
| 2000s | #4032 | 15 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Nerea
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Nerea: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nerea in the UK right now?
In 2024, Nerea was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Nerea most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 7 babies registered as Nerea in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nerea?
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "woman from the sea".
How many people are called Nerea in the UK?
A total of 57 babies have been registered as Nerea across the 14 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.