"grace (diminutive of Anna)"
Origin: Hebrew/Slavic
Language: English
Nina
Pronunciation: [ n-EEN-uh ]
Does Nina flow with your last name?
Two syllables, five cultures, endless elegance
Russian
Spanish
Italian
Hebrew
Slavic
Georgian
Classic
Minimalist
Elegant
Vintage
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Nina
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Nina
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"little girl"
Origin: Spanish
Language: Spanish
"great mother, queen of heaven"
Origin: Babylonian
Language: English
Browse names with similar meanings:
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Nina
See all →What the Nina report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Nina the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Nina
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Nina head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Nina actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Nina
Nina has multiple independent origins. In Slavic languages, it is a diminutive of Anna (from Hebrew Hannah, meaning 'grace'). In Spanish, 'niña' means 'little girl.' In Georgian (country of Georgia), Nina is an ancient name borne by Saint Nino, the 4th-century woman who converted Georgia to Christianity — making it one of the most revered names in the Caucasus. The name also has Babylonian/Assyrian roots meaning 'enclosure of fish' or 'queen of heaven.'
Nina has maintained quiet, consistent popularity across multiple cultures for centuries. In the US, it gained attention through jazz legend Nina Simone and has benefited from the trend toward short, sharp international names. It ranks consistently in the top 200 US girl names.
Saint Nino of Cappadocia (4th century) is the patron saint of Georgia, revered as the 'equal to the Apostles' for bringing Christianity to the Caucasus. In Russia and Eastern Europe, Nina remains a beloved classic. The name's cross-cultural appeal — working seamlessly in English, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Georgian — is remarkable.
Historical Record
Nina first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 84,422 babies have been named Nina in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Nina is past its peak , currently ranked #321 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Saint Nino converted King Mirian III of Georgia to Christianity in 327 AD using a cross made from grapevine branches — now the symbol of the Georgian Orthodox Church
- Nina Simone was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon and adopted the name Nina (Spanish for 'little girl') as her stage name
- Columbus named one of his three ships the 'Niña' — technically named after its owner, Juan Niño, but the feminized nickname stuck
Nina in Other Languages
Arabic
نينا
Hebrew
נִינָה
Italian
Nina
Russian
Нина
Spanish
Nina
Georgian
ნინო
Japanese
ニーナ
Popularity Over Time
#321
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Peaked 1980
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Nina
N
Nina Dobrev
Actor
1989
Bulgarian-Canadian actress known for The Vampire Diaries and various film roles
N
Nina Simone
Musician
1933
Legendary American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist known as the 'High Priestess of Soul'
N
Nina Sharp Fictional
Other
Character in the sci-fi TV series Fringe, the enigmatic head of Massive Dynamic corporation
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Myla
Girl
"gracious, dear, beloved"
#186
Octavia
Girl
"eighth"
#294
Xiomara
Girl
"battle glory"
#432
Brielle
Girl
"from the town of Brielle"
#144
Virginia
Girl
"pure, maiden"
#510
Compare Nina with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #321
- Total SSA Count
- 955
- Cultural Origins
- Russian Spanish Italian Hebrew Slavic Georgian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Common Nicknames
Nins
Nini
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, Spanish heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, Spanish heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Classic pairing, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, Spanish heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, classic style, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Nina
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Nina fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Also a Boy Name
Nina is also used as a boy name, ranked #19819.
View Nina as a boy name →Similar Names
See all names like Nina →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Nina with...
Same Origin Names (Russian)
See all Russian names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Nina
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Nina and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Nina sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Myla
Girl
Slavic origin
"gracious, dear, beloved"
#186 in US
Octavia
Girl
Latin origin
"eighth"
#294 in US
Xiomara
Girl
Old High German Wigmar origin
"battle glory"
#432 in US
Brielle
Girl
Dutch place name origin
"from the town of Brielle"
#144 in US
Virginia
Girl
Latin origin
"pure, maiden"
#510 in US
Juliette
Girl
Latin origin
"youthful, downy"
#129 in US
Alexis
Girl
Greek origin
"defender, helper"
#508 in US
Alessia
Girl
Greek origin
"helper; one who wards off enemies"
#281 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Nina's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nina
What does the name Nina mean?
"grace (diminutive of Anna)" (from Hebrew/Slavic). "little girl" (from Spanish). "great mother, queen of heaven" (from Babylonian). Nina has multiple independent origins. In Slavic languages, it is a diminutive of Anna (from Hebrew Hannah, meaning 'grace'). In Spanish, 'niña' means 'little girl.' In Georgian (country of Georgia), Nina is an ancient name borne by Saint Nino, the 4th-century woman who converted Georgia to Christianity — making it one of the most revered names in the Caucasus. The name also has Babylonian/Assyrian roots meaning 'enclosure of fish' or 'queen of heaven.'
What is the origin of the name Nina?
Nina has Hebrew/Slavic, Spanish, Babylonian, Russian, Italian, Hebrew, Slavic, and Georgian origins. In Hebrew/Slavic, it means "grace (diminutive of Anna)". In Spanish, it means "little girl". In Babylonian, it means "great mother, queen of heaven".
Is Nina a boy or girl name?
Nina is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #321. As a boy name, it is ranked #19819. Nina is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Nina?
Nina is pronounced n-EEN-uh.
How popular is the name Nina?
Nina is currently ranked #321 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Nina?
Common nicknames for Nina include Nins and Nini.
What are good middle names for Nina?
Popular middle name pairings include Nina Rose, Nina Marie, Nina Grace, Nina Elise, Nina Claire, Nina Belle, and Nina Joy.
What are good sibling names for Nina?
Names that pair well with Nina as siblings include Mia, Zoe, Vera, Leo, Luca, Max, and Nora.
How many syllables does Nina have?
Nina has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Nina a common or rare name?
Nina is a popular name, ranked #321 for girls. It is well-known without being overused.
About the Name Nina
Nina is a girl name with Russian, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, Slavic, and Georgian origins . The name means "grace (diminutive of Anna)" in Hebrew/Slavic .
Is Nina a boy or girl name? Nina is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #321 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #19,819. Nina is more commonly used as a girl name.
Nina is currently ranked #321 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Nina has 2 syllables and is pronounced n-EEN-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Nina include Nins and Nini. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Keep Exploring
Hebrew/Slavic Names
Browse all names with this origin
N
Names Starting with N
More girl names like Nina
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis