Nemesis

At a Glance: Name: Nemesis – Meaning: to give what is due; goddess of divine retribution – Origin: Greek – Gender: primarily used for girls

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Nemesis is a Greek name meaning "to give what is due," borne by the goddess of divine retribution. You may hear people use the word today to mean an archenemy or rival, but that's how the English word is used now, not where the name comes from: the goddess's name is rooted in giving what is due, not literally "enemy."

Meaning & Origin of Nemesis

Meaning: To give what is due; goddess of divine retribution.

Origin: Greek.

A common claim: Commonly used in everyday English simply to mean "archenemy" or "rival" Actually: That modern-English usage describes how the word nemesis is used today, not the name's origin — the goddess's name is rooted in 'giving what is due,' not literally 'enemy.'

Source: Wiktionary.

Popularity of Nemesis

Nemesis is a rarely given name in the U.S.: it peaked at #6636 in 1996 with 14 babies, and by 2023 it sat at #14654 with just 6.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1979–2023.

Make Nemesis Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Nemesis, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Minami
• Misbah
• Mollee
• Mickayla
• Mickaela
• Mykaela

FAQ

What does the name Nemesis mean?

To give what is due; goddess of divine retribution. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Nemesis)

Is Nemesis a popular name right now?

Nemesis peaked at #6636 in 1996 and is ranked #14654 as of 2023. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1979–2023.)

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