NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nieve

Of Spanish origin, meaning "snow" or "snowy white".

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.

Nieve is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nieve popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1128, with 30 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 102 births.

This profile covers 1,375 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,804 living people in the UK are called Nieve. 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

  • Nieve ranked #1128 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 30 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2015, when 102 girls were registered as Nieve.
  • Nieve ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #351 in 2024.
  • About 1,804 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nieve as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1128

2024

Births in 2024

30

Latest year

Peak year

2015

102 births

Estimated living

1,804

2026

Meaning

What does Nieve mean?

The name Nieve has its origins in the Spanish language, deriving from the word "nieve" which means "snow" in English. This connection to the natural winter phenomenon of snow suggests that the name may have originated in regions with colder climates, such as parts of Spain or Latin America where snowfall occurs.

While the exact origins of the name are uncertain, it is believed to have been in use as a given name for several centuries. Some historical records indicate that Nieve was used as a feminine name in Spain as early as the 16th century, during the height of the Spanish Empire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nieve can be found in the writings of Spanish poet and playwright Lope de Vega (1562-1635), who included a character named Nieve in one of his plays. This literary reference suggests that the name was in use among the Spanish population during the Golden Age of Spanish literature and arts.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nieve. One such person was Nieve de Villacís (c. 1615-1689), a Spanish noblewoman and philanthropist who founded a convent and orphanage in Madrid. Another was Nieve Ariza (1898-1989), a Spanish actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and stage productions during the early 20th century.

In the realm of literature, the name Nieve was also used by Spanish writer Nieve de Medina Bermúdez (1914-1994), who authored several novels and short stories. Additionally, Nieve Aguilar (1935-2009) was a renowned Spanish pianist and music educator who performed internationally and taught at prestigious institutions.

Outside of Spain, the name Nieve has also been used in Latin American countries with Spanish cultural influences. One example is Nieve Arria (1942-2020), a Venezuelan actress and television personality who starred in numerous telenovelas and films throughout her career.

While these examples provide a glimpse into the historical use of the name Nieve, it is important to note that many other individuals have likely borne this name throughout the centuries, leaving their own unique marks on various cultures and societies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nieve over time

The chart below shows babies named Nieve registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Nieve, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 30 births in 2024, compared with 102 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nieve
0265177102199620102024

Decades

Nieve by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nieve 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 #940 189 5
2010s #622 698 10
2000s #764 444 10
1990s #1751 44 4

Geography

Where Nieve is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Nieve. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Nieve ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #351 in 2024.

Scotland
9

Across the UK

Nieve in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#351 in 2024

21 years of NRS records, 438 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Nieve

  • Nieve Jennings

    beauty pageant contestant; model

    British model

    1987-

Related

Names similar to Nieve

FAQ

Nieve: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Nieve was ranked #1128 for girls in England and Wales, with 30 births registered.

When was Nieve most popular?

The peak year on record was 2015, with 102 babies registered as Nieve in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nieve?

Of Spanish origin, meaning "snow" or "snowy white".

How many people are called Nieve in the UK?

A total of 1,375 babies have been registered as Nieve across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 438 more in Scotland.

Where is Nieve most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Nieve ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #351 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.