Nestor
Boy name · #1530 in 2025 · Uniqueness 60/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Nestor against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Nestor in class?
Nestor 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 Nestor is most common
Geography matters for names, and Nestor is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Nestors were CA (30), TX (24), FL (9), AZ (7). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. 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.