NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nieva

A Spanish feminine name meaning "snows" or "the snow".

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.

Nieva is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nieva popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 5 births.

This profile covers 23 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2017 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 23 living people in the UK are called Nieva. 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

  • Nieva ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2018, when 5 girls were registered as Nieva.
  • About 23 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nieva as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2018

5 births

Estimated living

23

2026

Meaning

What does Nieva mean?

The name Nieva has its origins in the Spanish language and culture. It is derived from the word "nieve," which means "snow" in Spanish. This name is believed to have first appeared during the medieval period in Spain.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Nieva can be found in historical documents from the 15th century. During this time, it was primarily used as a surname, but later began to be adopted as a given name as well.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Nieva de Mendoza (1510-1575) was a Spanish noblewoman and writer who authored several works of literature. Her prominence contributed to the increased usage of the name Nieva during this era.

Another historical figure named Nieva was Nieva Gómez (1567-1632), a Spanish nun and mystic who is remembered for her religious writings and spiritual teachings.

In the 18th century, a renowned Spanish artist named Nieva Fernández (1725-1798) gained recognition for her intricate portraits and landscapes. Her artistic talent helped to further popularize the name Nieva among the Spanish population.

Moving into the 19th century, Nieva García (1820-1892) was a Spanish educator and activist who advocated for women's rights and access to education. Her efforts contributed to the advancement of women's empowerment and the continued use of the name Nieva.

In more recent times, Nieva Castro (1920-2005), a Spanish actress and dancer, achieved fame for her performances on stage and in films. Her popularity helped to maintain the name Nieva's presence in Spanish culture.

While the name Nieva has its roots in Spain and the Spanish language, it has also gained recognition in other Spanish-speaking countries and regions over the centuries. Its association with the beauty and purity of snow has likely contributed to its enduring appeal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nieva over time

The chart below shows babies named Nieva registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 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 Nieva, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 5 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nieva
01345201720202024

Decades

Nieva by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nieva 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 #5020 11 3
2010s #4812 12 3

Related

Names similar to Nieva

FAQ

Nieva: questions and answers

How popular is the name Nieva in the UK right now?

In 2024, Nieva was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Nieva most popular?

The peak year on record was 2018, with 5 babies registered as Nieva in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nieva?

A Spanish feminine name meaning "snows" or "the snow".

How many people are called Nieva in the UK?

A total of 23 babies have been registered as Nieva across the 6 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.