Neo

At a Glance: Name: Neo – Meaning: new – Origin: Greek (modern coinage) – Gender: Neutral – Pronunciation: NEE-oh

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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

Phonetic: NEE-oh   IPA: /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.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name 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.

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.

• Aster
• Chris
• Muse
• Tau
• Agnes
• Alexis

FAQ

What does the name Neo mean?

New. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Neo)

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.)

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