Nina
Nina was the 324th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 946 babies. Its best year was 1887, when it ranked 115th; the most babies were born in 1980 (1,889). Over the last ten years it has moved down 25 places. More babies were named Nina in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · Russian, Italian
Say it NEE-nuh /ˈninə/
- Rank in 2025
- #324 girls, up 3 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 946girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19801,889 babies
- Total since 1880
- 134,038babies recorded
What does the name Nina mean?
Nina came into English in the 19th century from several sources. Wiktionary notes the Russian Nina, after Saint Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia in the 4th century, a name of obscure origin; and Italian Nina, a short form of names such as Annina and Giovannina. DMNES similarly describes Italian Nino as a pet form of names ending in -ino. The Spanish word niña, "girl", is a separate word.
How sure is this? Uncertain. Several sources; the Georgian saint's name is of unknown meaning.
Other explanations you may read: from Spanish niña 'girl'.
Related names: Nino, Ninette, Annina.
See also: Slavic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Nina', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources (ed. S. L. Uckelman), Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Nino', DMNES, Durham University
Nina popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 250 since 1885.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #324 | 946 |
| 2020 | #327 | 944 |
| 2010 | #318 | 1,002 |
| 2000 | #219 | 1,428 |
| 1990 | #260 | 1,102 |
| 1980 | #148 | 1,889 |
| 1970 | #325 | 824 |
| 1960 | #248 | 1,235 |
| 1950 | #238 | 1,011 |
| 1940 | #196 | 911 |
| 1930 | #193 | 996 |
| 1920 | #179 | 1,226 |
| 1910 | #160 | 478 |
| 1900 | #155 | 376 |
| 1890 | #126 | 314 |
| 1880 | #135 | 119 |
How popular is Nina, counting every spelling?
Nina is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #350 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #324 for Nina on its own. Together these spellings went to 946 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nina | 946 | #324 | 4,856 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Nina?
946 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Nina (0.26 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Nina born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 9 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Nina.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Nina?
About 87,500 people born in the US named Nina are alive today, with a median age of 39; half are between 21 and 63. That makes Nina mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Nina by state
How common Nina was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in District of Columbia (7.2×), Massachusetts (2.5×), Connecticut (2.4×), New Jersey (2.2×), New York (2.2×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Nina: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Nina, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Nina · Sibling names for Nina
Questions about the name Nina
What does Nina mean?
The origin of Nina is uncertain: several sources; the Georgian saint's name is of unknown meaning.
How popular is the name Nina?
Nina was the 324th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 946 babies. Its best year was 1887, when it ranked 115th; the most babies were born in 1980 (1,889). Over the last ten years it has moved down 25 places. More babies were named Nina in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Nina a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Nina in the US.
Where is Nina most popular?
In 2021–2025, Nina was most common in District of Columbia (4.30 per 1,000 girls), followed by Massachusetts and Connecticut.