Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

National Nova Day – May 8, 2023

National Nova Day is celebrated every May 8. Nova is predominantly a feminine name, with about 92% of people bearing the name being female. The day is set aside to celebrate everyone named Nova. This short and sweet name originates from the Latin ‘novus’ and means ‘new.’ It also refers to the creation of a star, so you could say that all the Novas out there bring light into the world. In 2021, the name ranked 32nd among America’s most popular baby girls’ names, with 5,516 new infants sharing the name. Other variants of Nova include ‘Novah’ and ‘Novalee.’

History of National Nova Day

Nova has been used since the 1800s. Over the years, it has become more of a feminine name than a unisex one. The name is used primarily by Americans, but Europeans have also started adopting it. For every 100,000 Americans, 1.31 of them bear the name Nova. It’s also one of the top 100 names in Sweden and the Netherlands and among the top 200 names in Norway, with its usage recently increasing in the United Kingdom as well.

Data from the U.S. Social Security Administration (S.S.A.) shows that an estimated 5,961 people have been named Nova over the last 100 years. It’s used as a first name 69% of the time, and 92% of people named Nova are females. Those sharing the name are primarily White, accounting for 75.6%, followed by Blacks at 13.7%, Hispanics at 6.6%, Asians or Pacific Islanders at 1.9%, mixed races at 1.6%, and American Indians or Alaskan Natives at 0.7%.

Among all the states, Texas is home to the most Novas, around 648 people, while Maine is the state where you’re most likely to meet someone named Nova, as 3.83 people in every 100,000 Maine residents have the name. As the popularity of the name keeps rising, it’s fair to think we’ll be seeing a lot more Novas in the coming years.

National Nova Day timeline

1973
Nova Meierhenrich

The German presenter and actress is born.

1977
Nova Widianto

Widianto, an Indonesian badminton player, is born.

1980
Nova Eliza

Eliza, the Indonesian actress, is born.

1982
Nova Yeh

Yeh, a Taiwanese singer, is born.

National Nova Day FAQs

What is a good nickname for Nova?

Nicknames for Nova include Nove, Nono, Novie, Novy, and Vah.

What is a supernova?

A supernova is a star experiencing a sudden increase in brightness because of a catastrophic explosion that ejects most of its mass.

Is ‘Nova’ slang?

‘Nova’ is also used as the short form of Northern Virginia.

National Nova Day Activities

  1. Celebrate a Nova

    Celebrate everyone named Nova! If you already have a friend with this name, you can take them out for lunch or buy them a few drinks.

  2. Give them gifts

    Buy the Nova in your life something to celebrate the day. Everyone loves gifts, especially unexpected ones that show how much others appreciate them.

  3. Spread awareness

    Celebrate National Nova Day by telling others about it. This will encourage more people to commemorate the day!

5 Facts About Novak Djokovic

  1. He started playing tennis early

    He held his first tennis racket when he was four years old.

  2. He is multilingual

    He can fluently speak Serbian, French, Italian, German, and English.

  3. He’s an animal lover

    He takes his pet poodle, Pierre, everywhere he goes.

  4. He is a humanitarian

    He launched the Novak Djokovic Foundation in 2007 to provide financial support to disadvantaged children in Serbia.

  5. He’s one of the greats

    Djokovic is among the few tennis players to have won a Career Grand Slam, meaning he’s won the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open.

Why We Love National Nova Day

  1. It highlights the name

    Celebrating National Nova Day brings the name into the spotlight. Sharing information about it could encourage others to pass it on to their children.

  2. It helps people learn variations of the name

    The day helps people find more variations of it. These include Novah, Novalee, Novak, and many more!

  3. It encourages people to celebrate their friends

    Friends are meant to be celebrated all the time. But a special day dedicated to those named Nova is a special cause for festivity. Show the Novas in your life how much you care about them!

National Nova Day dates

YearDateDay
2023May 8Monday
2024May 8Wednesday
2025May 8Thursday
2026May 8Friday
2027May 8Saturday

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.