Declining since 1999, #324 for girls today.
Popularity of Nina since 1880
Babies named Nina per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1980, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Nina's real moment was 1887.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,093 |
| 1890s | 3,381 |
| 1900s | 3,743 |
| 1910s | 8,680 |
| 1920s | 11,329 |
| 1930s | 9,663 |
| 1940s | 9,509 |
| 1950s | 12,798 |
| 1960s | 10,890 |
| 1970s | 7,275 |
| 1980s | 13,641 |
| 1990s | 11,548 |
| 2000s | 12,884 |
| 2010s | 10,554 |
| 2020s | 5,800 |
Meaning & origin
Nina is a short, elegant name with a rich blend of origins. As of 2025, it ranks 324th and appears in 1 in every 1,699 births, having fallen in popularity since 1999. Its historical peak came in 1887, when it was much more common. The name has been consistently used since at least 1880, the first year of U.S. Social Security records. Top states for Nina include District of Columbia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, suggesting particular favor in the Northeast. While its associations range from the Spanish word for 'little girl' to a Russian diminutive of Anna, the name has a light, international feel that has kept it in steady use across generations.
Nina has multiple possible origins. In Spanish, it literally means 'little girl.' It is also a Russian diminutive of Anna (from Hebrew Hannah, meaning 'grace' or 'favor'). In some contexts, it may derive from the Quechua word for 'fire.' The name has been used across Europe and the Americas since the late 19th century, gaining particular popularity in English-speaking countries.
Where Nina is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Nina” around the world
Where Nina lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
#32
in 2024
Ireland
41
babies in 2025
New Zealand
27
babies in 2025
Quebec
28
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nin, Nini, Nene
Sibling names for Nina
Names that share Nina's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Maya, Lena, Stella, Clara, Vera, Gina, Kiara, Lola, Sonya, Alina, Aretha, Bela, Bria, Cher, Danita, Deena, Gena, Kami, Kira, Marlo, Mika, Miki, Milena, Mina, Mira, Mischa, Mona, My, Nita, Petra, Rena, Roma, Sonia, Taja, Tana, Tena, Tosha, Vina, Vira, Yuri, Zora, Ani, Ara, Bina, Brina, Candra, Cleone, Daina, Denia, Elene, Gala, Geena, Jina, Kena, Kina, Marni, Mena, Mica, Mirna, Nadya, Nena, Nika, Randa, Raye, Reena, Risa, Salena, Saray, Sascha, Sena, Sima, Tanja, Tisa, Tona, Toya, Vanna, Vena, Yana, Zina, Zita, Alla, Anica, Arena, Arina, Avina, Brena, Carita, Cena, Clea, Conni, Danay, Dezi, Dima, Drea, Drena, Eri, Eydie, Fanta, Florita, Gari, Genea, Ginna, Glena, Ilena, Inna, Janica, Jara, Jeena, Karman, Katja, Kimara, Lasha, Lejla, Lysa, Maiah, Mar, Matia, Meeka, Meela, Mela, Melana, Mera, Meron, Mili, Milka, Mima, Monic, Monya, Nani, Nikol, Nivia, Reesa, Rei, Roza, Seena, Simi, Soila, Susi, Taira, Tais, Tani, Tinia, Triana, Trisa, Valli, Xandra, Zeena, Zelena, Zenna, Zosia, Adri, Aleka, Anu, Asja, Basha, Belem, Cotina, Cuca, Dali, Danaja, Djuna, Dyna, Genita, Juri, Klea, Lalla, Liona, Lolah, Marca, Meli, Onna, Patra, Pina, Pola, Reet, Reeya, Riko, Sema, Shasha, Shayda, Taila, Tayna, Teka, Tene, Tenia, Teona, Thanya, Tika, Tila, Timi, Tinna, Videl, Virna, Miela, Onya, Pama, Alila, Angala, Ayn, Chena, Cina, Cova, Deina, Denina, Dim, Dinna, Dniya, Dolce, Fenna, Frimmy, Jessina, Keina, Lalena, Lalisa, Lien, Luda, Mata, Mellina, Milina, Minsa, Mirjana, Monik, Neka, Novis, Petina, Quenna, Rewa, Rhina, Rini, Ritta, Sanda, Savreen, Shalan, Shuna, Shyna, Sofija, Soni, Sonnia, Stela, Tanee, Tanji, Tanza, Tata, Ticia, Tinya, Vana, Venda, Winna, Yasha, Yelina, Yeva, Yiyi, Zeni, Ziza
Brothers: Leo, Max, Theo, Oscar, Felix, Anton, Damon, Luka, Miles, Tate, Andreas, Antron, Lemar, Marko, Rico, Rio, Aram, Boris, Gio, Kam, Lenin, Lino, Pavel, Rito, Stevan, Alik, Alto, Arhan, Avin, Cisco, Kao, Karmello, Kato, Kavi, Ki, Kosta, Lamari, Leno, Marico, Miron, Neeko, Neri, Nilo, Raffi, Reco, Toma, Ural, Zan, Zoran, Artur, Bon, Chon, Costa, Demar, Kayo, Kino, Maks, Matin, Mikhi, Miko, Min, Miro, Pao, Rino, Ronrico, Sahas, Sava, Sevan, Sony, Thelonious, Vin, Xan, Yan, Yony, Zaul, Zeek, Ilija, Anthone, Dago, Danil, Dusan, Gildo, Goran, Hairo, Kayvan, Kire, Kiren, Leonidus, Livan, Maico, Markale, Marlos, Mavin, Michi, Mico, Millan, Mir, Mirko, Raun, Rocko, Romin, Sou, Tavio
