Nieves Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: NEE-eh-ves /ˈnje.βes/
Origin: Spanish
Meaning: snow
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Nieves has its roots in the Spanish language, derived from the word "nieve," which means "snow." This term itself comes from the Latin "nix, nivis," also meaning "snow." The transition from Latin to Spanish occurred during the evolution of the Romance languages, where many Latin words transformed in form and pronunciation. The name Nieves is often associated with the Virgin of the Snow, or Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, a title given to the Virgin Mary in reference to a miraculous snowfall that marked the site of a church's foundation in the 4th century.
This event is commemorated in various regions, particularly in Spain and Latin America, where the name is often bestowed in honor of the Virgin Mary. Historically, the name Nieves has been linked to various religious and cultural traditions.
The veneration of the Virgin of the Snow became prominent in the Middle Ages, particularly in Spain, where numerous churches and shrines were dedicated to her. The name gained further significance through the spread of Catholicism in the Americas during the colonial period, where it was adopted by many families, reflecting both religious devotion and cultural identity.
The name is often celebrated on the feast day of the Virgin of the Snow, which is observed on August 5th. Culturally, Nieves embodies themes of purity and tranquility, symbolized by snow.
The name has been embraced in various artistic expressions, including literature and music, often evoking imagery associated with winter and serenity. In some contexts, diminutive forms such as "Nievesita" may be used affectionately, though the name itself stands strong in its traditional form.
Overall, Nieves carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in both linguistic evolution and religious devotion.
Famous people named Nieves
In this section, you will find notable people named Nieves. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Nieves who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Nieves who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Nieves Alvarez is a model and television presenter best known for her work on Spanish television and her appearances in fashion magazines.
Nieves Herrero is a journalist and television presenter best known for her work on Spanish television and her contributions to various media outlets.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Nieves, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Nieves. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Nieves was first seen in the United States in 1901.
Nieves has ranked as high as #2351 nationally, which occurred in 1925, and has been most popular in Texas, California, and New York.
In the past 5 years the name Nieves has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Nieves is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Nieves was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Nieves.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2009 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2008 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 2007 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 2006 | 17 | 6 | 11 |
| 2005 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2004 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 2003 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 2002 | 17 | 5 | 12 |
| 2001 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 2000 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1999 | 17 | 5 | 12 |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1996 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 1995 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1994 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 1992 | 20 | 6 | 14 |
| 1991 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| 1990 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1989 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 1988 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1987 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1986 | 19 | 6 | 13 |
| 1985 | 21 | 7 | 14 |
| 1984 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1983 | 18 | 7 | 11 |
| 1982 | 21 | 10 | 11 |
| 1981 | 15 | 5 | 10 |
| 1980 | 18 | 7 | 11 |
| 1979 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1978 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1977 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 1976 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1975 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 1974 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 1973 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1972 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| 1971 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 1970 | 16 | 11 | 5 |
| 1969 | 16 | 10 | 6 |
| 1968 | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| 1967 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 1966 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1965 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1964 | 17 | 10 | 7 |
| 1963 | 17 | 8 | 9 |
| 1961 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 1960 | 14 | 5 | 9 |
| 1959 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1958 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1957 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 1956 | 15 | 7 | 8 |
| 1955 | 19 | 7 | 12 |
| 1954 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1953 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 1952 | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| 1951 | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| 1950 | 25 | 13 | 12 |
| 1949 | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| 1948 | 21 | 11 | 10 |
| 1947 | 19 | 9 | 10 |
| 1946 | 16 | 7 | 9 |
| 1945 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| 1944 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| 1943 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| 1942 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1941 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 1940 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1939 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 1938 | 26 | 12 | 14 |
| 1937 | 18 | 8 | 10 |
| 1936 | 13 | 5 | 8 |
| 1935 | 23 | 12 | 11 |
| 1934 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1933 | 20 | 9 | 11 |
| 1932 | 27 | 11 | 16 |
| 1931 | 19 | 5 | 14 |
| 1930 | 28 | 10 | 18 |
| 1929 | 28 | 12 | 16 |
| 1928 | 33 | 12 | 21 |
| 1927 | 30 | 10 | 20 |
| 1926 | 35 | 9 | 26 |
| 1925 | 37 | 14 | 23 |
| 1924 | 29 | 12 | 17 |
| 1923 | 20 | 9 | 11 |
| 1922 | 24 | 7 | 17 |
| 1921 | 30 | 15 | 15 |
| 1920 | 22 | 5 | 17 |
| 1919 | 23 | 9 | 14 |
| 1918 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1917 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1916 | 18 | 8 | 10 |
| 1915 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1914 | 14 | 6 | 8 |
| 1913 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 1912 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1905 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1901 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Nieves (1993)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |