Neo
Boy name · #1066 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
Neo ranks #1066 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 204 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1826, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,824 boys born in 2025 was named Neo.
Babies named Neo per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 35-year story
Neo first appears in the Social Security records in 1990, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2022, with 240 babies and a rank of #947. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Neo against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Neo in class?
Neo scores 60 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Neo is most common
Geography matters for names, and Neo is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Neos were CA (37), FL (22), NY (18), TX (17), IL (8). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Neo
Statistically, parents drawn to Neo tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Teo, Noa, Kaleo, Gio, and Nazir.
TeoNoaKaleoGioNazirZenTiagoRenzo
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Neo | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 204 | #1064 |
| 2024 | 236 | #961 |
| 2023 | 226 | #971 |
| 2022 | 240 | #947 |
| 2021 | 227 | #977 |
| 2020 | 180 | #1101 |
| 2019 | 124 | #1413 |
| 2018 | 145 | #1261 |
| 2017 | 84 | #1804 |
| 2016 | 100 | #1610 |
| 2015 | 81 | #1826 |
| 2014 | 93 | #1657 |
| 2013 | 60 | #2182 |
| 2012 | 69 | #2016 |
| 2011 | 78 | #1824 |
| 2010 | 62 | #2144 |
| 2009 | 78 | #1861 |
| 2008 | 64 | #2125 |
| 2007 | 69 | #2016 |
| 2006 | 103 | #1479 |
| 2005 | 80 | #1674 |
| 2004 | 108 | #1349 |
| 2003 | 84 | #1529 |
| 2002 | 66 | #1744 |
| 2001 | 111 | #1208 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Neo a popular boy name?
Neo ranked #1066 among boys in 2025 with 204 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1826.
When was the name Neo most popular?
Neo peaked in 2022, when 240 American boys received the name (ranked #947 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Neo?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,824 newborn American boys was named Neo. It scores 60/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.