Editor’s note: This post was originally published on August 1, 2008. It was substantially revised and re-posted on December 16, 2013.
She’s a short, sweet complete name with a surprisingly international pedigree.
Thanks to Nicole for suggesting this name, and to Anna for suggesting it was time to update our Baby Name of the Day: Nina.
Nina, Lena, Gena, Tina – it is easy to dismiss them all as diminutives, short forms of longer names.
In Nina’s case, she can come from Italian and Spanish names, like Antonina and Giannina, a form of Giovanna. She’s also found in Russian, from Annina, an elaboration of Anne, or Antonia. Other -ina names, like the German Katharina, could also lead to Nina.
Except that Nina stands on her own very nicely, with plenty of possible origins:
- The Spanish word for girl is niña.
- Among the Quechua of South America, Nina means “fire.” Once the official language of the Incan Empire, it’s still spoken by more than 10 million people, mostly in Peru and Bolivia.
- In the early 300s, a woman called Nino cured a queen and converted ancient Iberia – the modern-day Republic of Georgia – to Christianity. Catholics call her Saint Nina, but Nino remains a female given name in Georgia.
Here’s one more reason to think she works an an independent name: Nina was an ancient fertility goddess. She lent her name to the city of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, back around 1800 BC.
Nina is related to Ishtar, as well as to the Sumerian Inanna and the Semitic Astarte. Whether she was used as a given name is hard to say, but such ancient use lends Nina some strength. And some suggest that Ninos – the masculine form of Nino – comes from the goddess. Today, Nineveh is little more than ruins, part of modern Iraq.
In the US, Nina has ranked in the Top 1000 every year since 1880. Since the 1990s, she’s hovered in the 200s – neither common nor obscure. She fares better internationally, ranking in the Top 100s of Poland, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.
Fictional Ninas abound, with plenty on television series. There’s also:
- The stylish Nina Garcia of Project Runway fame, also fashion director at Marie Claire magazine.
- Eclectic, influential jazz singer, classically trained pianist, and civil rights activist Nina Simone lends the name some serious strength. She was born Eunice, but a boyfriend nicknamed her Nina, from the Spanish word for little girl – her debut album was called Little Girl Blue.
- There’s a little-known 18th century opera by Giovanni Paisiello called Nina, or the Girl Driven Mad by Love.
- One of Christopher Columbus’ ships born the name – but in the case of the caravel, it was probably a twist on the name of the ship’s owner, Juan Nino.
Some sites also suggest Swahili, Arabic, and Native American use, but those are a bit more elusive.
Variant spelling Nena has seen some use, and earlier in the twentieth century, Nina was regularly pronounced like the number nine, even though today the first syllable nearly always rhymes with keen.
All of this makes for a name that would be recognized nearly anywhere in the world. If you’re after a familiar name that isn’t common, and a portable, culture-spanning choices, there’s lots to love about Nina.
Mine is pronounced Nee-nah! I love the name. It’s an endearing name, it means “little girl” in Spanish that always puts me into smiling whenever my mom or dad calls me. It’s like “my little girl come here!”. Well, still put me into smiles too when my bf or friends call me though 🙂
my name is nina (nine-uh)… i have met a couple ppl with the same name and never got any idea as to how the name came about… all i have to go on is that my family came to the u.s. in 1899 from norway, their first child born here but ninth child born, was nina and my mother named me after her… nina lillian… it’s impossible to figure out the meaning but i’m thinking it’s a very old scandinavian name because my great,great grandparents stuck with names from their home for their children…
Yes, I am in my mid-twenties and this is my mother’s name! It’s also pronounced Nine-ah, and I have always loved it. She was named after her grandmother, who was Norwegian, so there’s some kind of Scandinavian history.
My name is Nine-ah also and I found this blog while looking for history on the long-i pronunciation. I was named after my grandmother who was from Croatia, so I’m assuming that the name was eastern european but I’m not sure. I would love to know the history behind my name!
Hi, I’m a “Nine-uh” and I love my name because it’s so unique these days. I’ve never met anyone who pronounces it the same way but have met lots of people who have friends and family that do. Funny thing is that they all seem to be in their late 60’s and up and all from the eastern part of the U.S. My mom named me after my grandmother (who is from Iowa) but has no idea where the name came from. I did meet an East Indian couple on a flight once who said the name is common in India and it means “pretty eyes”. Nice!
My name is also Nina, and I am named after St. Nina. “Nina” is the Russian form of the Georgian “Nino,” and apparently she’s Nina in the Catholic church as well…I didn’t know that. Russian Orthodox tradition states she was born in Cappadocia (present day Turkey) in the third century A.D. as the only daughter of a Roman general named Zabulon and his wife Susanna. The Babylonian and Greek roots make sense to me, as it seems to be a very old name. I also wanted to offer clarification–it’s not solely an abbreviated name in Russia and other former Soviet bloc countries.
My name is Nina!! And I just love all the history behind the name. My parents told me it meant grace in English!! Now I’ve just discovered this whole new side to my name. I like it a lot! Thanks for the info
Hey- I’m a “nine-ah” too….I just love it. My middle name happens to be Christine…too rhymey with “knee-na” but goes well with “nine-ah” I think. I was named after my great grandmother…also my husband is a chef at a senior living facility and he knows a resident there named “nine-ah”…I agree that it must be old fashioned. I have only personally met a few others in my lifetime.
My name is nina.
hahahaha.
Best name ever.
My name is Nina and it is pronounced Nine-uh. I have met a few other girls who pronounce it the same way. My parents knew a few people who with the name Nina and just liked it. I do like it the way it is pronounced and it goes very well with my middle name, Nina Victoria.
Hmmm … younger NINE uh, any idea if there was something in particular that influenced your parents? I’m quite curious about the pronunciation – it does seem like NINE uh was once more common, but I can’t figure out why. (Though NEE nah is clearly dominant now … could that be because of the influence of Tina and Gina?)
Nina Victoria is a fabulous combo, BTW.
My Name is Nina pronounced Nine-ah! I’m 34 and was named after my great great Aunt from Canada. I wish there was a little history on the Nine-ah version.
My very favorite person, also my grandmother, is named Nina. Her husband has called her “NINE-UH”, but she abhors it and won’t answer to it any longer. The prettier and proper way to pronounce it is “Nee-nuh”. I am considering this name very serious if we have a girl (due in early August). What I am not fond of it my Gram’s middle name, Louise. Though it flows nicely with Nina, I don’t like it. And I’m having trouble coming up with other middle names that go well. Nina Rose, Nina Christine, and Nina Ann, and Nina Elise are out. Help? I may even use Nina as a middle name if I find another first name I like.
Well my name is Nina (born in early August as well!), pronounced Nee-na, and my middle name is Angel. Nina Angel may not be the best combination, but middle names should not be used only for fluency but they should have significant meaning and purpose as well. Perhaps think of a name that means something significant to the parents, or the baby. Or perhaps when you meet your child you will find a name that comes instantly to mind! Thats certainly how I got my middle name and Im very happy to have it.