About the name Nina
The origin of Nina is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to Spanish roots, with the meaning “Little girl”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Nina we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a classic, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Nina ranked #324 for girls in the US, with 946 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1980. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Nina were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #324
- In 2015
- #299
- Babies in 2025
- 946
Popularity of Nina, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Hello, world
Nina
Your last name
born on your big day
7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Nina on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Nina. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Nina
Nina is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Nina
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.