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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Is Nova a good girls name?

115 replies

CosyCat123 · 18/11/2025 11:00

Friend is looking for new and unconventional girls names so I suggested Nova - what do people think?

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PevenseygirlQQ · 18/11/2025 16:34

I think its a lovely name, I think its more common in America, I only know 1 and she is in her 50’s now

SconehengeRevenge · 18/11/2025 16:31

Arlanymor · 18/11/2025 11:07

Makes me think of a Vauxhall Nova - although if you weren't around between 1983 and 1993 you probably wouldn't make the connection.

My immediate thought too

ChubbyPuffling · 18/11/2025 16:29

"Welcome to Nova IT services, how may we help you?"

Or Nova Corp from Marvel.

No from me...

ladycarlotta · 18/11/2025 16:29

I like it. I think it's not a very Mumsnetty name, so the opinions you get here are not going to be representative of society as a whole. I know one little Nova and one adult! DH liked it for our second daughter but it didn't make the cut.

I also think of Nova Pilbeam btw. But quite a niche reference.

IsoldeWagner · 18/11/2025 16:26

Tryingtokeepgoing · 18/11/2025 16:13

Since the definition of unique is one of a kind, of course if others have the name it's not unique. Not having met anyone with the same name as you one is not enough to make your name unique.

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Yes. It's definitely not "one of a kind"!

IsoldeWagner · 18/11/2025 16:25

Outside9 · 18/11/2025 16:08

I don't get your point. Other people having a name doesn't mean it's not unique.

E.g. I know other people in the world have my name. But I've never met anyone in my life that has the same name as me.

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Other people having a name does mean it's not unique!
That's the very definition.......

Curiousrobin · 18/11/2025 16:22

N0Tfunny · 18/11/2025 11:01

For a baby cat or dog - yes. For a baby human - no.

My cat is called Nova. He's male but everyone assumes female, even though it's a unisex name! I liked the name but not on a future child so I agree!

Tryingtokeepgoing · 18/11/2025 16:13

Outside9 · 18/11/2025 16:08

I don't get your point. Other people having a name doesn't mean it's not unique.

E.g. I know other people in the world have my name. But I've never met anyone in my life that has the same name as me.

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Since the definition of unique is one of a kind, of course if others have the name it's not unique. Not having met anyone with the same name as you one is not enough to make your name unique.

Outside9 · 18/11/2025 16:08

IsoldeWagner · 18/11/2025 12:32

It's not unique, pp said 579 baby girls were named Nova in 2023.

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I don't get your point. Other people having a name doesn't mean it's not unique.

E.g. I know other people in the world have my name. But I've never met anyone in my life that has the same name as me.

WallaceinAnderland · 18/11/2025 15:55

Middle name Scotia?

Needmorelego · 18/11/2025 15:53

One of the Lego Friends characters is called Nova.
Lego try to use fairly universal names that work in lots of different countries.

manicpixieschemegirl · 18/11/2025 15:39

Tacky and faddy, sorry.

MrsArcher23 · 18/11/2025 15:27

My first thought was the terror attack.
i love the name Nora and my cousin is called Finola, Nola for short.

ImWearingPantaloons · 18/11/2025 15:27

Vauxhall Nova - renamed in Spain as No Va meant ‘it doesn’t go’.

Ambridgefan · 18/11/2025 15:25

Neither did I

Radiatorvalves · 18/11/2025 15:24

My cousin has a Nova. I don’t think many (any?) of the wider family are that keen on it. It’s a no from me.

CherryPinkAppleBlossomWhite · 18/11/2025 15:20

I learned to drive in a Vauxhall Nova in the 1980s, so I associate the name with the car.

It also seems to be a bit of a faddy name, which means it will date badly.

It's a no(va) from me.

PTown · 18/11/2025 12:41

It means “no go” in Spanish.

Calliopespa · 18/11/2025 12:40

BedtimeBeliever · 18/11/2025 12:39

What about Nola?

Or Nora?

Though I had a book as a child about Nora the mouse, which I guess was supposed to be a word-play on Gnawer.

BedtimeBeliever · 18/11/2025 12:39

What about Nola?

Calliopespa · 18/11/2025 12:38

MidnightPatrol · 18/11/2025 11:04

Increasingly popular and now in the top 100.

579 baby girls were called Nova in 2023.

Really?

I've never even heard of it used as a name.

It sounds like a brand name to me, of something vaguely functional, like period pants or a walk-in bath for elderly people.

IsoldeWagner · 18/11/2025 12:32

Outside9 · 18/11/2025 12:08

I like it personally. It's unique.

It makes me think of Nova Scotia

It's not unique, pp said 579 baby girls were named Nova in 2023.

queenmeadhbh · 18/11/2025 12:13

Champagne Super-

TigTails · 18/11/2025 12:13

I’m not sure I’d use it but as creative names go it’s not the worst option.

Daaaaahling · 18/11/2025 12:11

To me it feels really corporate. Like the name of the evil company in a dystopian sci fi film.

I'm sure that if I knew a little girl with this name it would grow on me. But as I feel right now, I don't like it.