Fun Facts About the Name Neri
- 878 babies named Neri: U.S. records list 878 babies given the name Neri from 1880 through 2025. Even 228 girls received the name Neri - about 1 girl for every 3 boys.
What Does the Name Neri Mean?
Neri is a name with two main established origins. In Hebrew, it is written נֵרִי (Neri) and means "my lamp" or "my light." It comes from נֵר (ner), "lamp" or "light," with the first-person singular suffix -i, "my." The literal sense is "my lamp"; readers often give the softer rendering "my light." In the New Testament, Neri appears in the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:27. Some also treat it as a short form of the Hebrew name Neriah (נֵרִיָּה), "Yah is my lamp," though Neri stands as its own biblical name.
In Italian, Neri is a masculine given name usually explained as a shortened form of Ranieri, the Italian form of the Germanic name Raginheri or Rainerius. That name is built from ragin, "counsel," and hari, "army," so the literal meaning is "army counsel" or "counselor of the army." The Italian surname Neri can also come from nero, "black," as a nickname, but that is a separate surname development rather than the usual source of the given name.
Neri Name History & Origins
The Hebrew name Neri is biblical. It appears in the Gospel of Luke among the ancestors of Jesus, where Neri is named in the genealogy between Melchi and Shealtiel (Luke 3:27). It belongs to a group of Hebrew names built on the word for light, including Neriah, and it is also used in modern Hebrew as a personal name.
The Italian given name Neri is generally a short form of Ranieri, a name in use in Italy from the medieval period. Ranieri corresponds to French Rainer and German Rainer or Reiner. As a shorter form, Neri appears in Italian personal and family names. The surname Neri is also borne by Saint Philip Neri, the sixteenth-century founder of the Oratory; that is a surname use, distinct from the given name. The given name Neri remains in use in Italy and among families of Italian descent.
How Popular is the Name Neri?
Neri 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 2007. Its best rank was #1,792 in 2007.
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.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,634 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2024 | #14,737 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2023 | #16,907 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2022 | #17,047 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #10,065 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #10,270 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2018 | #8,473 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2017 | #11,358 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #11,535 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #14,074 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #8,826 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2012 | #16,319 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #14,411 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #14,547 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #9,820 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #14,954 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #10,623 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2006 | #10,409 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #10,476 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #11,073 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #17,360 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #11,753 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #16,831 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #11,089 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #15,146 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #15,059 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #13,232 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1983 | #11,437 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #8,893 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,328 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2024 | #5,576 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2023 | #8,078 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #8,779 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #7,982 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #13,479 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #8,673 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2018 | #7,465 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #9,437 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2016 | #5,705 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2015 | #6,210 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #5,908 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2013 | #5,329 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #5,196 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #3,575 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2010 | #4,331 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2009 | #2,437 | 53 | 0.0027% |
| 2008 | #2,176 | 62 | 0.0030% |
| 2007 | #1,792 | 82 | 0.0040% |
| 2006 | #4,997 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2005 | #4,588 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2004 | #5,416 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #5,468 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #4,645 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #5,066 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #5,806 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #5,928 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #6,679 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #7,558 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #6,199 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #4,912 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #4,779 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1991 | #7,044 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #6,240 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1989 | #7,630 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #5,744 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #6,283 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #7,015 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #7,047 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #6,963 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #6,041 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #4,373 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1952 | #3,293 | 7 | 0.0004% |
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 Neri 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 have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Neri's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Neri's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.