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At a Glance
- Meaning
- New
- Origin
- Greek (modern coinage)
- Gender
- Neutral
- Pronunciation
- NEE-oh
Neo (pronounced NEE-oh) is a modern coinage rooted in Greek, simply meaning 'new.' You may have come across the idea that Neo means 'The One' — that's really just a fictional anagram trick from The Matrix, not an actual meaning behind the name. Used as a name for any gender, Neo carries a clean, modern feel rather than a deep etymological backstory.
Meaning & Origin of Neo
Meaning: New.
Origin: Greek (modern coinage).
A common claim: Neo is associated with being 'The One' (an anagram used in The Matrix) Actually: The 'One' connection is a fictional anagram device from the film, not an actual etymological meaning; the real root is just 'neo-,' meaning 'new.'
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Neo
NEE-ohIPA /ˈniːoʊ/
Popularity of Neo
Neo has stayed a rare choice in Social Security data, reaching its highest point at #949 in 2022 with 240 babies before slipping to #969 in 2024 with 232.
Names Like Neo
These names share Neo’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Neo mean?
New. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Neo?
Neo is pronounced NEE-oh (IPA: /ˈniːoʊ/).
Is Neo a popular name right now?
Neo is near its all-time peak (#949 in 2022), ranked #969 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1990–2024.)
Make Neo Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Neo, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Neo? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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