How to say it
NI · na
ˈniː.nə
Feminine
Nina
Little girl, or grace
What it means
A name with several roots: the Spanish niña ('little girl'), a Russian short form of names like Antonina, and an ancient Mesopotamian goddess.
Nina arrives from more than one direction. In Spanish it echoes niña, 'little girl'; in Russian it is the affectionate short for names ending in -nina, like Antonina; and it was the name of a Babylonian goddess of the sea. One of Columbus's ships was La Niña. Short, elegant, and at home in dozens of languages, it carries the cool of singer Nina Simone. Said NEE-na.
How to spell Nina
The standard spelling is Nina. Common variants include Ninette, Nena, Nyna, but Nina is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #115 in 1887, currently #324 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
NEE-na in most languages.
- Spelling
Works alone or as a short for Antonina, Giannina, or similar.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Nina Simone American singer, pianist, and civil-rights voice
Spelling variants
- Ninette
- Nena
- Nyna
Names with the same feeling
See Nina from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Nina mean?
- A name with several roots: the Spanish niña ('little girl'), a Russian short form of names like Antonina, and an ancient Mesopotamian goddess.
- What does Nina mean in Spanish?
- In Spanish, Nina means "Little girl, or grace." Nina arrives from more than one direction. In Spanish it echoes niña, 'little girl'; in Russian it is the affectionate short for names ending in -nina, like Antonina; and it was the name of a Babylonian goddess of the sea. One of Columbus's ships was La Niña. Short, elegant, and at home in dozens of languages, it carries the cool of singer Nina Simone. Said NEE-na.
- Is Nina short for Antonina?
- Yes. Nina is a short form of Antonina, and it carries the same meaning, "Little girl, or grace." These days many parents use Nina as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Nina?
- Nina is pronounced ˈniː.nə. Say it as NI-na, with the stress on the "ni" syllable.
- How do you spell Nina?
- The standard spelling is Nina. Common spelling variants include Ninette, Nena, Nyna.
- Is Nina a boy or girl name?
- Nina is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Nina?
- Nina ranked #324 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.