"queen (short form of Regina)"
Gina
Pronunciation: [ j-EEN-uh ]
A retro Italian classic with timeless old-world charm
Meaning & Origin
"well-born (short form of Luigina/Giovanna)"
Things to Know About This Name
- Associated with Gina Carano, controversial actress fired from The Mandalorian in 2021
The Story of Gina
Gina is an Italian short form of names ending in '-gina', most commonly Regina (queen, from Latin) or Luigina (diminutive of Luigia/Louise). It can also function as a diminutive of Giovanna (Jane). The name became popular as a standalone given name in the 20th century, spread largely by Italian-American communities and Italian cinema stars.
Gina peaked in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, fueled by the glamour of Italian cinema and stars like Gina Lollobrigida. It has since declined significantly but retains warm, mid-century charm. It remains more common in Italy and among Italian-American families.
In Italy, Gina is associated with the golden age of Italian cinema and the glamorous personalities of Italian actresses. Gina Lollobrigida and Gina Rowlands brought different dimensions of the name to American audiences—glamour and serious artistry respectively.
Fun Facts
- Gina Lollobrigida was considered one of the greatest European sex symbols of the 1950s and 60s
- The name reached peak popularity in the US in 1965
- Gina Rinehart, the Australian mining billionaire, is one of the wealthiest women in history
Gina in Other Languages
Famous People Named Gina
Gena Rowlands
Actor
1930
Legendary American actress, muse of director John Cassavetes, winner of two Emmy Awards
Gina Lollobrigida
Actor
1927
Italian actress and sex symbol of the 1950s-60s, considered one of the last icons of classic Hollywood glamour
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #2,025
- Total SSA Count
- 97
- Cultural Origins
- Italian American European
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Gina is also used as a boy name, ranked #11890.
View Gina as a boy name →Similar Names
Same Origin Names (Italian)
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gina
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About the Name Gina
Gina is a girl name with Italian, American, and European origins . The name means "queen (short form of Regina)" in Latin via Italian .
Is Gina a boy or girl name? Gina is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #2,025 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #11,890. Gina is more commonly used as a girl name.
Gina is currently ranked #2,025 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Gina has 2 syllables and is pronounced j-EEN-uh, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Alternative spellings of Gina include Ginny, Ginger . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.