Nina Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: NEE-nah /ˈniː.nə/
Origin: Spanish; Slavic; Hebrew
Meaning: Spanish: little girl; Slavic: dreamer; Hebrew: grace
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Nina has multiple etymological roots, primarily deriving from the Spanish and Latin languages. In Spanish, Nina is a diminutive form of names such as Ana or Mariana, meaning 'little girl' or 'child.' This diminutive usage reflects a broader linguistic trend where affectionate or familial terms are formed by shortening names.
The Latin origin can be traced to the word 'nina,' meaning 'little girl' or 'young woman,' which further emphasizes the nurturing connotation associated with the name. The name has also been linked to the Quechua word 'nina,' meaning 'fire,' adding another layer of meaning and cultural significance.
Historically, the name Nina appears in various cultures and contexts. In the biblical tradition, Nina is sometimes associated with the name of a prominent figure, such as Saint Nina, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century.
Her influence in the region has made the name significant in Georgian culture, where it is celebrated and often used. Additionally, the name gained prominence in literature and art, appearing in works from the Renaissance period onward, which contributed to its enduring presence in various cultures.
Culturally, Nina has been embraced in numerous traditions, often symbolizing purity, innocence, and femininity. In Slavic cultures, Nina is sometimes linked to the word for 'dream' or 'dreamer,' enhancing its ethereal quality.
The name has also been associated with various saints and historical figures, which has helped maintain its relevance through the centuries. The name's simplicity and melodic quality have made it a favored choice across different languages and cultures, ensuring its continued resonance in the collective consciousness.
Famous people named Nina
In this section, you will find notable people named Nina. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Nina who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Nina who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Nina Simone is a singer, songwriter, and pianist best known for Feeling Good, I Put a Spell on You, and Sinnerman.
Nina Dobrev is an actress best known for The Vampire Diaries, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Nina Garcia is a fashion journalist and television personality best known for Project Runway, Elle Magazine, and Nina's Style.
Nina Agdal is a model best known for her work with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Victoria's Secret, and Billabong.
Nina Totenberg is a legal affairs correspondent best known for her work with NPR and coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Fictional characters named Nina
The following list of fictional characters named Nina is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Nina Williams is a fictional character from the video game series Tekken. She is a skilled assassin known for her rivalry with her sister and her complex backstory.
Nina Simone is a fictional character from the film and musical adaptation of The Life of Nina Simone. She is portrayed as a talented singer and civil rights activist, reflecting the struggles and triumphs of her life.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Nina, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Nina. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Nina was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Nina has ranked as high as #282 nationally, which occurred in 1980, and has been most popular in New York, California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Nina has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Nina is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Nina was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Nina (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 126 | |
| NY | 92 | |
| FL | 77 | |
| TX | 66 | |
| PA | 50 | |
| NJ | 50 | |
| IL | 40 | |
| MA | 37 | |
| OH | 36 | |
| NC | 28 | |
| WA | 24 | |
| MN | 19 | |
| VA | 18 | |
| GA | 18 | |
| IN | 18 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Nina.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 955 |
| 2023 | 919 |
| 2022 | 1,025 |
| 2021 | 1,003 |
| 2020 | 944 |
| 2019 | 1,005 |
| 2018 | 1,028 |
| 2017 | 1,019 |
| 2016 | 1,047 |
| 2015 | 1,079 |
| 2014 | 1,108 |
| 2013 | 1,114 |
| 2012 | 1,092 |
| 2011 | 1,051 |
| 2010 | 1,002 |
| 2009 | 1,149 |
| 2008 | 1,228 |
| 2007 | 1,270 |
| 2006 | 1,212 |
| 2005 | 1,287 |
| 2004 | 1,326 |
| 2003 | 1,356 |
| 2002 | 1,320 |
| 2001 | 1,306 |
| 2000 | 1,428 |
| 1999 | 1,437 |
| 1998 | 1,348 |
| 1997 | 1,283 |
| 1996 | 1,157 |
| 1995 | 989 |
| 1994 | 1,062 |
| 1993 | 1,016 |
| 1992 | 1,051 |
| 1991 | 1,101 |
| 1990 | 1,102 |
| 1989 | 1,172 |
| 1988 | 1,227 |
| 1987 | 1,265 |
| 1986 | 1,073 |
| 1985 | 1,199 |
| 1984 | 1,342 |
| 1983 | 1,342 |
| 1982 | 1,427 |
| 1981 | 1,701 |
| 1980 | 1,889 |
| 1979 | 857 |
| 1978 | 565 |
| 1977 | 625 |
| 1976 | 567 |
| 1975 | 726 |
| 1974 | 732 |
| 1973 | 741 |
| 1972 | 799 |
| 1971 | 839 |
| 1970 | 826 |
| 1969 | 813 |
| 1968 | 805 |
| 1967 | 978 |
| 1966 | 1,064 |
| 1965 | 1,059 |
| 1964 | 1,143 |
| 1963 | 1,273 |
| 1962 | 1,278 |
| 1961 | 1,242 |
| 1960 | 1,236 |
| 1959 | 1,339 |
| 1958 | 1,194 |
| 1957 | 1,320 |
| 1956 | 1,326 |
| 1955 | 1,351 |
| 1954 | 1,489 |
| 1953 | 1,377 |
| 1952 | 1,356 |
| 1951 | 1,035 |
| 1950 | 1,011 |
| 1949 | 943 |
| 1948 | 1,022 |
| 1947 | 999 |
| 1946 | 1,013 |
| 1945 | 882 |
| 1944 | 1,007 |
| 1943 | 939 |
| 1942 | 915 |
| 1941 | 878 |
| 1940 | 911 |
| 1939 | 917 |
| 1938 | 972 |
| 1937 | 901 |
| 1936 | 937 |
| 1935 | 966 |
| 1934 | 1,027 |
| 1933 | 976 |
| 1932 | 974 |
| 1931 | 997 |
| 1930 | 996 |
| 1929 | 968 |
| 1928 | 1,023 |
| 1927 | 1,057 |
| 1926 | 1,111 |
| 1925 | 1,197 |
| 1924 | 1,212 |
| 1923 | 1,192 |
| 1922 | 1,131 |
| 1921 | 1,212 |
| 1920 | 1,226 |
| 1919 | 1,124 |
| 1918 | 1,165 |
| 1917 | 1,154 |
| 1916 | 1,130 |
| 1915 | 1,085 |
| 1914 | 828 |
| 1913 | 668 |
| 1912 | 582 |
| 1911 | 466 |
| 1910 | 478 |
| 1909 | 434 |
| 1908 | 449 |
| 1907 | 433 |
| 1906 | 340 |
| 1905 | 354 |
| 1904 | 348 |
| 1903 | 345 |
| 1902 | 369 |
| 1901 | 295 |
| 1900 | 376 |
| 1899 | 390 |
| 1898 | 383 |
| 1897 | 336 |
| 1896 | 320 |
| 1895 | 348 |
| 1894 | 347 |
| 1893 | 330 |
| 1892 | 340 |
| 1891 | 273 |
| 1890 | 314 |
| 1889 | 315 |
| 1888 | 304 |
| 1887 | 266 |
| 1886 | 238 |
| 1885 | 193 |
| 1884 | 187 |
| 1883 | 177 |
| 1882 | 171 |
| 1881 | 123 |
| 1880 | 119 |