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Nation

NAY-shun /neɪˈʃən/

At a glance

U.S. rank 2025 (boys)
#4,539 (outside the top 1,000)
Babies in 2025 (boys)
22 (<0.01% of boys)
As a girl name
#11,932 in 2025 (7 babies)Peak #8,542 in 2022
Trend (boys)
Slipping #2,846 in 2020 to #4,539 in 2025
Peak (boys)
#2,819 in 2021
First recorded
1997 (as a boy name; 2002 as a girl name)

Meaning of Nation

Nation is a unisex name of English origin (pronounced NAY-shun) drawn from the common noun denoting a collective people or sovereign entity. It suggests unity and shared identity, evoking a tapestry of cultures woven into a single whole—a nuance not far from the Persian concept of mellat, where communal bonds are celebrated in poetry and song. Though it remains relatively rare in the United States, hovering in the low 900s of the baby-name rankings with roughly 20 to 44 occurrences per year since 2021, Nation’s steady presence reflects a measured appeal among parents seeking a name that balances strength with inclusivity. Like a young diplomat at an international forum, it carries a dry wit and an analytical edge, hinting at leadership and global awareness without sacrificing unassuming warmth.

How to pronounce Nation

English

Popularity of Nation in the U.S.

Nation was the #4,539 boy name in the U.S. in 2025, with 22 babies. It peaked at #2,819 in 2021. It first appears in the records in 1997. As a girl name it was #11,932 in 2025, with 7 babies.

Bar and line chart: Nation in the U.S., 1997–2025. Bars: boys given the name each year, most 44 in 2021 and 22 in 2025. Line: rank among boy names, peak #2,819 in 2021, #4,539 in 2025.
  • Boys named Nation (left scale)
  • Rank among U.S. boy names (right scale, #1 at the top)
By year, 1997–2025. Source: SSA. Download: PNG · SVG
Boys year by year, 1997⁠–⁠2025 26 rows
Nation: babies and rank among boy names in the U.S. by year
YearBabiesRankvs previous year
2025224,539▲ 162
2024214,701▼ 358
2023244,343▼ 569
2022293,774▼ 955
2021442,819▲ 27
2020422,846▲ 1,268
2019254,114▲ 992
2018185,106▼ 171
2017194,935▲ 383
2016175,318▲ 4,250
201579,568▼ 4,316
2014175,252▲ 152
2013165,404▲ 5,366
2012610,770▼ 3,761
2011117,009▲ 1,794
201088,803▼ 3,249
2009165,554▲ 1,633
2008117,187▼ 925
2007136,262▲ 198
2006126,460▲ 1,180
200597,640▲ 503
200488,143▼ 2,585
2003135,558back (not recorded in 2001–2002)
2000510,349▼ 437
199959,912back (not recorded in 1998)
199768,110new

Girls year by year, 2002⁠–⁠2025 10 rows
Nation: babies and rank among girl names in the U.S. by year
YearBabiesRankvs previous year
2025711,932back (not recorded in 2023–2024)
2022128,542▲ 6,709
2021515,251▼ 5,705
2020109,546▼ 434
2019119,112▲ 2,315
2018811,427▲ 2,697
2017614,124▲ 2,091
2016516,215▼ 1,733
2015614,482back (not recorded in 2003–2014)
2002515,432new