Naw Name Meaning & Historical Trends

Naw

Pronunciation: NAW

Meaning Woman (Karen honorific) Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#14,424
TREND
1,362

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Naw in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Naw

  • 119 babies named Naw: U.S. records list 119 babies given the name Naw from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Naw Mean?

Naw is a Karen honorific that means "woman" and is used before a woman's given name, comparable to "Miss" in English. It comes from the Karen languages spoken in Myanmar and Thailand, where it is the female counterpart to Saw, the honorific for men. In Karen naming custom, Naw is a title rather than a standalone personal name, though it can appear as a first name in diaspora communities.

Naw Name History & Origins

The use of Naw belongs to the naming traditions of the Karen people, an ethnic group living mainly in Myanmar and Thailand. Karen names typically place a gender-specific honorific before the personal name: Saw for men and Naw for women. This custom is found among the Sgaw Karen and other Karen-speaking communities. The title has been carried by Karen people in public life, such as Naw Zipporah Sein, a Karen human rights advocate. As Karen families have resettled in the United States and other countries, Naw has sometimes been used as a given name in its own right. It is distinct from Burmese honorifics such as U, Daw, Ko, and Ma, which belong to the Bamar majority.

How Popular is the Name Naw?

Naw has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2017. Its best rank was #7,015 in 2017.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Naw Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You have a vivid imagination who can bring inspired messages to the world. You like to enjoy the pleasures of life, and when self is overcome, you can rise to the heights. You have an ability to avoid trouble - that is why you often fails to learn from experiences. You are restless, sociable people-oriented, a lover of change, and a seeker of adventure and new thrills. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.

✦ Naw's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Naw's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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