The first name Nestor
A boy’s name from Greek meaning “to return safely”, “homecoming”.
Pronounced /ˈnɛstɚ/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Greek origin
Nestor means “to return safely”, “homecoming” in Greek.
From Ancient Greek Νέστωρ (Néstōr), possibly from νέομαι (néomai, “to return safely”), νόστος (nóstos, “homecoming”).
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 8 boys were named Nestor, making it the 2,664th most popular boys’ name.
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Nestor with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Nestor at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 113 boys born in the United States were named Nestor, the 1,535th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1991, when 300 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nestor in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Famous people named Nestor
35 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Néstor GorositoArgentine association football player, born 1964
- Nestor CarbonellAmerican actor, born 1967
- Néstor PitanaFormer actor and football referee, born 1975
- Nestor IrankundaAustralian association football player (born 2006)
- Eemil Nestor SetäläFinnish politician and linguist (1864–1935)
- Néstor LorenzoArgentine footballer and manager, born 1966
- Néstor ClausenArgentine footballer and manager, born 1962
- Nestor LakobaAbkhazian politician (1893-1936)
- Nestor Omar PiccoliArgentine association football player and manager, born 1965
- Nestor SerranoAmerican actor, born 1955
- Néstor RossiArgentine footballer (1925–2007)
- Nestor CombinFrench footballer, born 1940
More Greek boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Nestor mean?
- Nestor means “to return safely”, “homecoming” in Greek.
- What is the origin of the name Nestor?
- From Ancient Greek Νέστωρ (Néstōr), possibly from νέομαι (néomai, “to return safely”), νόστος (nóstos, “homecoming”).
- How popular is the name Nestor?
- In 2025, 8 boys born in England and Wales were named Nestor, ranking 2,664th.
- Is Nestor a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 10,430 US babies named Nestor since 1880 were boys.
- When was Nestor most popular?
- 1991 in the United States, when 300 babies were named Nestor, its highest rank at 587th.
- How do you pronounce Nestor?
- Nestor is /ˈnɛstɚ/, 2 syllables.
- Is Nestor also a surname?
- Yes. Nestor is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.