Nieves is a name derived from the Spanish plural form of nieve. It serves as both a matronymic surname and a female given name rooted in the title of the Virgin Mary Nuestra Señora de las Nieves. This title refers to a 4th-century Catholic miracle involving a summertime snowfall on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, which led to the construction of the Basilica Sanctae Mariae ad Nives.
The name originated from the Asturleonese language in northwestern Spain and is widely distributed throughout the Hispanosphere. In Spain, it is most common in Andalusia, Madrid, Galicia, and the Canary Islands. Within Hispanic America, the name is prevalent in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, and Puerto Rico, where it reaches its highest concentration.