Nina
Nina: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈniːnə/
Meaning and origin of Nina
- A female given name in continuous use since the 19th century.
Etymology
Borrowed into English in the nineteenth century, apparently from several sources. Many borrowings are of Russian Ни́на (Nína), the name of a Georgian saint in the fourth century, also known as Nino, of obscure origin and meaning, possibly connected with the Assyrian king Ninus. Others are of an Italian short form of diminutives like Annina from Anna and Giovannina from Giovanna. Phonologically or orthographically similar names are present in several languages, including Afrikaans, Hindi, Italian, Persian, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and some Native American languages. In many of those, it is a nickname for names ending in -ina or -nina. (hidden message in crossword): After Nina Hirschfeld, th
How popular is Nina?
Since 1880, 133,788 girls and 250 boys in the U.S. have been named Nina (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #115 in 1887. Its highest rank for boys was #1048 in 1885. In 2025 it ranked #324 for girls, with 946 babies given the name.
Names similar to Nina
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sibling name ideas for Nina
Names that peaked around the same time as Nina and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Nina FAQ
What does the name Nina mean?
A female given name in continuous use since the 19th century. Borrowed into English in the nineteenth century, apparently from several sources. Many borrowings are of Russian Ни́на (Nína), the name of a Georgian saint in the fourth century, also known as Nino, of obscure origin and meaning, possibly connected with the Assyrian king Ninus. Others are of an Italian short form of diminutives like Annina from Anna and Giovannina from Giovanna. Phonologically or orthographically similar names are present in several languages, including Afrikaans, Hindi, Italian, Persian, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and some Native American languages. In many of those, it is a nickname for names ending in -ina or -nina. (hidden message in crossword): After Nina Hirschfeld, th
How popular is the name Nina?
Since 1880, 133,788 girls and 250 boys in the U.S. have been named Nina (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #115 in 1887. Its highest rank for boys was #1048 in 1885. In 2025 it ranked #324 for girls, with 946 babies given the name.
Is Nina a boy or girl name?
Nina is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 133,788 girls and 250 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.