Naomi
nay-OH-mee /neɪˈoʊ.mi/
Meaning of Naomi
Naomi comes from the Hebrew נָעֳמִי (Na'omi), from na'em — 'pleasant' or 'agreeable.' In the Book of Ruth, Naomi is the mother-in-law who travels back to Bethlehem with Ruth after losing her husband and sons. After her bereavement she asks to be called Mara ('bitter') instead, creating one of the Hebrew Bible's most poignant passages about the name's own meaning.
How to pronounce Naomi
In Hebrew: na-o-MI (stress on final syllable). English speakers use nay-OH-mee.
Current popularity of Naomi
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #40 |
Notable bearers of Naomi
Naomi (Book of Ruth); Naomi Campbell (model); Naomi Watts (actor); Naomi Osaka (tennis player).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Naomi — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31