Nina

Pronunciation: [ n-EEN-uh ]

Girl Name #321 Most Popular Rising 2 Syllables

Two syllables, five cultures, endless elegance

Russian Spanish Italian Hebrew Slavic Georgian

Classic Minimalist Elegant Vintage

Meaning & Origin

"grace (diminutive of Anna)"

Origin: Hebrew/Slavic

Language: English

"little girl"

Origin: Spanish

Language: Spanish

"great mother, queen of heaven"

Origin: Babylonian

Language: English

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.

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

Famous People Named Nina

Nina Dobrev

Actor

1989

Bulgarian-Canadian actress known for The Vampire Diaries and various film roles

Nina Simone

Musician

1933

Legendary American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist known as the 'High Priestess of Soul'

Nina Sharp Fictional

Other

Character in the sci-fi TV series Fringe, the enigmatic head of Massive Dynamic corporation

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

Pairs Well With

Nina Rose Nina Marie Nina Grace Nina Elise Nina Claire Nina Belle Nina Joy

Sibling Names

Mia Zoe Vera Leo Luca Max Nora

Also a Boy Name

Nina is also used as a boy name, ranked #19819.

View Nina as a boy name →

Similar Names

Lena Ina Mina Regina Wilhelmina Tina Luna Dinah

Playground Safety

Kid-Friendly

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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.