Nestor
Boy name · #1530 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Nestor? In official American birth records, Nestor has been tracked continuously since 1885, giving it 140 years of documented American history.
Nestor ranks #1530 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 113 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1381, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 15,929 boys born in 2025 was named Nestor.
The 140-year story
Nestor first appears in the Social Security records in 1885, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1991, when 300 boys were named Nestor — good for #586 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. 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.
Babies named Nestor per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nestor against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nestor in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Nestor is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Nestor will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Nestor is most common
State-level data for Nestor is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Nestor
Statistically, parents drawn to Nestor tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are German, Hector, Nigel, Salvador, and Cortez.
GermanHectorNigelSalvadorCortezTrevorEfrainSkylar
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Nestor | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 113 | #1529 |
| 2024 | 97 | #1709 |
| 2023 | 91 | #1774 |
| 2022 | 76 | #2000 |
| 2021 | 94 | #1721 |
| 2020 | 89 | #1731 |
| 2019 | 108 | #1548 |
| 2018 | 96 | #1663 |
| 2017 | 126 | #1393 |
| 2016 | 107 | #1548 |
| 2015 | 125 | #1381 |
| 2014 | 108 | #1492 |
| 2013 | 106 | #1520 |
| 2012 | 115 | #1439 |
| 2011 | 123 | #1364 |
| 2010 | 165 | #1127 |
| 2009 | 157 | #1156 |
| 2008 | 194 | #1005 |
| 2007 | 209 | #946 |
| 2006 | 201 | #934 |
| 2005 | 226 | #828 |
| 2004 | 197 | #878 |
| 2003 | 189 | #891 |
| 2002 | 196 | #847 |
| 2001 | 218 | #778 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Nestor?
In official American birth records, the name Nestor first appeared in 1885 (over 140 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Nestor a popular boy name?
Nestor ranked #1530 among boys in 2025 with 113 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1381.
When was the name Nestor most popular?
Nestor peaked in 1991, when 300 American boys received the name (ranked #586 that year). Since 1991 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Nestor?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 15,929 newborn American boys was named Nestor. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.