Nestor Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Nestor has its roots in Greek, meaning 'homecoming'. It evolved from the Ancient Greek 'nēstor' to the Latin 'Néstor', and finally to its modern English form. The name is associated with traits of wisdom and leadership due to the legendary character in Greek mythology. There is no biblical relevance. The name gained popularity during the Renaissance, and it remains recognized for its classical heritage.
The name Nestor is most popular in California, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Nestor has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Nestor' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1438th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1518th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1184th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 955th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 690th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 931st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1620th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Nestor' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nestor"
Pronunciation
/ˈnɛstər/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Nestor is derived from the Greek word 'nēstor', which is associated with the meaning 'homecoming' or 'returning'. In Greek mythology, Nestor was a wise king of Pylos and a prominent figure in Homer's 'Iliad'.
Meaning
homecoming
Language Evolution
Nestor (Ancient Greek), Néstor (Latin), Nestor (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name became popular in the Western world due to its association with the legendary figure Nestor from Greek mythology, particularly during the Renaissance when classical names were revived.
Variants & Derivatives
Néstor (Spanish), Nestorios (Greek), Nestorino (Italian)
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Nestor is perceived as traditional and carries connotations of wisdom and experience, often associated with older generations.
Famous People
Nestor Makhno, Ukrainian anarchist, Nestor Carbonell, American actor, Nestor Kirchner, former President of Argentina
Explore More Nestor Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nestor"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Nestor"
"Nestor" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1438th of 7545 | 408 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1518th of 6773 | 384 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1184th of 7552 | 774 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 955th of 10718 | 1,147 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 690th of 16616 | 3,259 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 931st of 24088 | 3,100 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 1620th of 23106 | 1,223 |
Regional Popularity of "Nestor" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
83.05% 1176th/1416 |
- |
91.55% 2166th/2366 |
59.89% 684th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
74.42% 1158th/1556 |
68.25% 1606th/2353 |
41.24% 638th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
55.73% 1241st/2227 |
26.17% 636th/2430 |
49.56% 1414th/2853 |
34.95% 970th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
36.70% 1078th/2937 |
15.96% 556th/3483 |
33.94% 1194th/3518 |
19.29% 780th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
25.62% 944th/3685 |
16.27% 728th/4475 |
16.40% 852nd/5194 |
6.47% 409th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
30.49% 1397th/4582 |
23.53% 1215th/5164 |
13.09% 957th/7313 |
8.20% 612th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
62.37% 2485th/3984 |
48.12% 2159th/4487 |
21.03% 1435th/6822 |
18.37% 1153rd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Nestor" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Nestor"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Nestor" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.