Neo
Boy nameNeo has been given to 3,123 babies in the U.S. since 1990. It peaked in 2022.
Meaning & origin
Recent coinage from the prefix neo- (“new”). Popularized by a character in the science-fiction film The Matrix (1999), where it is explained as an anagram of "(the) One".
Origin: coinages
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Popularity over time births per year, 1880–2025
Total babies
3,123
Peak year
2022 (240 babies)
Rank in 2025
Below top 1000
First recorded
1990
10-year trend
▲ +152%
Gender split
0% girls / 100% boys
Spellings & variants
Names one letter away from Neo — alternate spellings parents actually use.
Names with a similar vibe
Same primary gender, peaked around the same years, and roughly as common as Neo.
FAQ
How popular is the name Neo?
Neo has been given to 3,123 babies in the U.S. since 1990. It ranked below the top 1000 in 2025.
When did the name Neo peak?
Neo peaked in 2022, when 240 babies were given the name.
Is Neo a girl or boy name?
Neo is primarily a boy name (100% of babies named Neo are boys).
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