Neo - A very unique male name
Neo at a glance
Neo is ranked #1077 among boy baby names in 2025, with 150 births in 2025. It peaked in 2022 at #963 and first appeared on the charts in 1999.
- Rank in 2025
- #1077
- Births in 2025
- 150
- Peak year
- 2022 (#963)
- First appeared
- 1999
- Trend
- #1182 in 2020 → #1077 in 2025 (Rising)
- Popularity
- 1 in 9,775 boys
- Visitor rating
- 4.7/5 (75 recent votes)
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration · Data through 2025 · Updated 2026
With that position 1 in 9,775 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Neo peaked in popularity 4 years ago in 2022 on position 963.
Famous with this name
NEO
Neo
Neo
How would you rate Neo, 1-5?
Neo is currently topping the charts in...
Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Neo is currently topping the baby name charts in Florida at position #720 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #1,420.Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Neo is where you live.
Comment and discuss
Neo origin and meaning
Greek and international — from Greek neos, 'new'
'New' — from Greek neos; Neo is also a word meaning 'gift' in Tswana, an unrelated coincidence
Neo entered American use in 1999, the year of The Matrix, whose hero Neo — 'the One,' an anagram the film plays on — made the name famous. The Greek root meaning 'new' is genuine, and the name also exists independently in southern African use. US numbers peaked in 2022 and remain modest, driven by the film's hero and the appealing meaning.
Attested etymology
Neo is a 3 letter name with 2 syllables.
To see famous people named Neo, pop culture references for the name Neo and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.Similar to Neo
We've found the following names that sound similar to Neo, sorted by popularity.
Noah / Noe / Nehemiah / Noam / Naim / Noa / Niam / Nahum / Naeem / Nino /Name statistics
Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better
understanding of how popular or unique this name is.
With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually
differ a lot from state to state.
Chart position per year (visualized)
Chart position per state (visualized)
Chart position per year (table view)
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 1077 |
| 2024 | 1047 |
| 2023 | 980 |
| 2022 | 963 |
| 2021 | 1014 |
| 2020 | 1182 |
| 2019 | 1576 |
| 2018 | 1267 |
| 2017 | 2041 |
| 2016 | 1470 |
| 2015 | 1847 |
| 2014 | 1610 |
| 2013 | 2094 |
| 2012 | 2008 |
| 2011 | 2011 |
| 2010 | 2003 |
| 2009 | 1709 |
| 2008 | 2029 |
| 2007 | 1754 |
| 2006 | 1371 |
| 2005 | 1584 |
| 2004 | 1300 |
| 2003 | 1423 |
| 2002 | 1871 |
| 2001 | 1233 |
| 2000 | 1360 |
| 1999 | 2884 |
Chart position per state (table view)
| State | Rank |
|---|---|
| Florida | 720 |
| California | 728 |
| Oklahoma | 772 |
| Utah | 778 |
| Maryland | 780 |
| New York | 790 |
| New Jersey | 880 |
| Pennsylvania | 986 |
| Illinois | 991 |
| Washington | 1104 |
| North Carolina | 1110 |
| Texas | 1243 |
| Ohio | 1420 |
Even more about Neo
These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.
Is Neo a common or unique name?
By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.What is the number of syllables for the name Neo?
2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.Pronunciation
NEE-oh · /ˈniːoʊ/
Around the world
- Neos (root) (Greek) — Source root meaning 'new'; Neo itself is used internationally as a short given name.
Famous bearers
- Neo — The hero of The Matrix films, played by Keanu Reeves (Fictional, 1999) Fictional
Style
InternationalModern coinage
Why parents choose it
Neo is a sleek, futuristic three-letter name with a genuine 'new' meaning and a beloved film hero behind it. It stays uncommon, which keeps its sci-fi cool from feeling overused.
Worth knowing
- The Matrix association is immediate and permanent — a feature for fans, a lot for others.
