UK girl's name
Niva
A feminine name of Russian origin meaning "snow-covered field".
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.
Niva is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Niva popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1672, with 18 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 18 births.
This profile covers 97 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 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.
Niva is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 97 living people in the UK are called Niva. 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
- • Niva ranked #1672 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 18 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 18 girls were registered as Niva.
- • About 97 living people in the UK are estimated to have Niva as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1672
2024
Births in 2024
18
Latest year
Peak year
2024
18 births
Estimated living
97
2026
Meaning
What does Niva mean?
The name Niva has its origins in several languages and cultures, with roots dating back centuries. The name is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit word "niva," meaning "habitation" or "abode." This suggests that the name may have been associated with a place of dwelling or a settlement in ancient Indian civilizations.
Niva is also a Slavic name with connections to various Slavic languages, such as Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian. In these languages, the name is derived from the word "niva," which translates to "field" or "cultivated land." This connection could indicate that the name was originally linked to agricultural communities or rural areas.
In the Hindu religion, Niva is considered a variant of the name Nivrita, which is derived from the Sanskrit word "nivrit," meaning "modest" or "humble." This association with humility and modesty may have contributed to the name's popularity and reverence in certain Hindu traditions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Niva can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts, where it is mentioned as the name of a river goddess. This mythological reference highlights the name's deep-rooted connection to nature and water bodies.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Niva. One such figure is Niva Ashkenazi (1920-1986), an Israeli actress and singer who gained fame in the mid-20th century. Another prominent bearer of the name was Niva Rivkin (1944-2012), an Israeli mathematician and computer scientist known for her contributions to the field of cryptography.
In the realm of literature, Niva Kashuri (born 1956) is a renowned Georgian poet and writer whose works have been translated into multiple languages. The name Niva has also been associated with historical figures like Niva Fattahi (born 1983), an Iranian activist and journalist who advocated for women's rights and freedom of speech.
Niva Selander (1919-2011) was a Swedish author and playwright who gained recognition for her novels and plays depicting the lives of women in rural Sweden. Her works often explored themes of tradition, family dynamics, and the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Niva throughout history, showcasing its cultural diversity and enduring presence across different regions and eras.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Niva over time
The chart below shows babies named Niva 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 Niva, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 18 births in 2024, compared with 18 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Niva by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Niva 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 | #3249 | 45 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4382 | 38 | 8 |
| 2000s | #4220 | 10 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3126 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Niva
- 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
Niva: questions and answers
How popular is the name Niva in the UK right now?
In 2024, Niva was ranked #1672 for girls in England and Wales, with 18 births registered.
When was Niva most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 18 babies registered as Niva in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Niva?
A feminine name of Russian origin meaning "snow-covered field".
How many people are called Niva in the UK?
A total of 97 babies have been registered as Niva across the 16 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.