unisex name
Nyx
NIKS (English)
- Origin Greek
- Gender Unisex
- Syllables 1
- Letters 3
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 756
Nyx is a unisex name meaning "night," from the Greek word nyx. In Greek mythology Nyx is the primordial goddess of the night, a daughter of Chaos and the mother of Sleep and Death, and she's feared even by Zeus in Homer's Iliad.
- Nyx is a name of Greek origin.
- Peaked in 2022, when 109 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 34,899 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 2008.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
Nyx Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 2000s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 10 |
| 2010s | 163 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 500 |
What Nyx Means
Nyx means night. As a name it suits parents drawn to mythology and dark, mysterious sounds, and it's the same word that appears in English nocturnal, by way of Latin nox.
Where Nyx Comes From
Greek nyx is related to Latin nox and English night, all descended from one Indo-European word. Hesiod's Theogony presents Nyx as among the first beings to emerge from Chaos, and she bears many dark children, including Hypnos, sleep, and Thanatos, death. In Homer's Iliad, Zeus holds back rather than anger her. Modern use as a first name began only in the twenty-first century, and it leans toward girls. The word also made its way into astronomy: one of Pluto's moons was named after her, with the spelling Nix chosen because the Nyx spelling already belonged to an asteroid.
Nyx in Use
Nyx sits among other edgy mythological names such as Persephone and Hecate. The sound overlaps with the English word nix, meaning nothing, which some parents will want to consider.
How Popular Is Nyx?
In 2025, Nyx was given to 95 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Nyx Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Nyx
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Nyx Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Nyx over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Nyx
- English NIKS
Sibling Names for Nyx
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Nyx — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Nyx
What does the name Nyx mean?
Night, from the Greek word nyx.
Who is Nyx in Greek mythology?
The primordial goddess of the night, daughter of Chaos and mother of Sleep and Death.
How do you pronounce Nyx?
NIKS, like the word nicks.
How popular is the name Nyx?
In 2025, Nyx was given to 95 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Nyx a girl's or a boy's name?
Nyx is used for both girls and boys. About 80% of recorded births with this name are girls.
How many syllables are in Nyx?
Nyx has 1 syllable.
When was Nyx most popular?
Nyx peaked in 2022, when 109 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Nyx a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Nyx currently ranks #2,575 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.