Nina

♀ Girl

Pronounced NEE-nah /ˈniː.nə/High

Meaning: In Spanish, Nina means 'little girl' or 'granddaughter'. As a Slavic diminutive of names like Antonina or Katharina, it derives from those names' meanings. Also used as a Hebrew short form of names meaning 'grace'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Nina is a crisp, joyful name used across cultures from Spain to Russia, carrying meanings from 'little girl' to 'grace' depending on tradition. Its brevity and open sound make it universally appealing.

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Origin MediumSpanish, Hebrew, Slavic

MeaningIn Spanish, Nina means 'little girl' or 'granddaughter'. As a Slavic diminutive of names like Antonina or Katharina, it derives from those names' meanings. Also used as a Hebrew short form of names meaning 'grace'.

U.S. rank (2025)#324 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births946 girls (0.05% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1980

Total births (all-time)≈ 133,766

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Nina has multiple independent origins. In Spanish, nina simply means 'little girl' or 'child', often used as a term of endearment. In Slavic countries, Nina is a diminutive of longer names ending in -nina, such as Antonina or Katharina. The name also has significance in Georgian (Caucasus) Christianity, where Saint Nino (c. 296–338) is credited with converting Georgia to Christianity — her name is spelled Nino in Georgian but Nina in Russian tradition.

Nina spread through Russian aristocratic society in the nineteenth century and across Europe through literature and music. Nina appears as a character in Anton Chekhov's The Seagull (1896), one of the most celebrated plays in the dramatic canon. In the United States, Nina has been a consistent chart presence, never extremely popular but always present, appreciated for its clean, international simplicity. Jazz singer Nina Simone made the name synonymous with musical artistry.

Did you know? Columbus's three ships were the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria — the Nina being the smallest and most maneuverable, named after its owner Juan Nino, making it the only vessel on that 1492 voyage not named after a saint.

Overall data confidence 87%

Behind the Name: Nina — Multiple cultural origins and meaningsOxford Dictionary of First Names — Spanish and Slavic usage history

Variations

NenaNenaNeenaNinah

Nicknames

NiNeens

Famous Bearers

★Nina Simone (1933–2003)
American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist, one of the most influential jazz musicians of the twentieth century.

If you like Nina…

Mia— short two-syllable international girl's name with multiple cultural roots and broad appeal

Luna— two-syllable romantic girl's name with Latin origins and similar cross-cultural charm

Lena— two-syllable European girl's name with Slavic and Latin roots and similar clean elegance

Frequently Asked

What does the name Nina mean?

Nina means 'little girl' in Spanish, and also serves as a Slavic diminutive of longer names like Antonina, with roots connected to grace.

How do you pronounce Nina?

Nina is pronounced NEE-nah (/ˈniː.nə/), two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Nina a boy or girl name?

Nina is a girl's name used across multiple cultures.

How popular is Nina?

Nina has been consistently present in the US top 300 girls' names and is widely popular in Spain, Russia, Germany, and Italy.