Nina Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity

Nina is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.

Spelling

How Do You Spell Nina?

Nina is spelled N-I-N-A. The name has 4 letters.

Profile Summary

Nina at a Glance

Usage
Predominantly used for girls
Meaning
Nina may derive from several linguistic roots, including the diminutive form of names ending in “-nina” or from the Quechua word for “fire.”
Origin
Nina is used across several languages and cultures.
Pronunciation
NEE-nuh · 2 syllables
Most Recent Year on Record2025
Total Recorded U.S. Births134,038
First Year on Record1880
Latest U.S. Data

Nina Popularity in 2025

View Full Popularity History
Girls

Rank#324

Recorded Births946

What Changed?
  • Girls usage fell 3 places to #324 and recorded 14 fewer births compared with 2024.

Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.

What Does the Name Nina Mean?

Nina may derive from several linguistic roots, including the diminutive form of names ending in “-nina” or from the Quechua word for “fire.”

Origin: Nina is used across several languages and cultures. It may function as a diminutive of longer names ending in “-nina,” and some modern sources also connect it with the Quechua word for “fire.” Its precise origin depends on the language and naming tradition.

How Do You Pronounce Nina?

PronunciationNEE-nuh

Syllables2

What Is the History of the Name Nina?

History
Nina has been used in several linguistic and cultural traditions, but it does not have one universally agreed origin.
Recent National Record

Nina Popularity by Year

Open Complete History

The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.

YearUsage CategoryRecorded BirthsNational Rank
2025Girls946#324
2024Girls960#321
2023Girls920#338
2022Girls1,025#312
2021Girls1,005#323
2020Girls944#327
2019Girls1,006#318
2018Girls1,029#319
2017Girls1,020#319
2016Girls1,047#309
2015Girls1,080#299
2014Girls1,110#295
2013Girls1,116#284
2012Girls1,093#290
2011Girls1,051#303
2010Girls1,002#318
2009Girls1,149#289
2008Girls1,230#277
2007Girls1,270#268
2006Girls1,212#276
2005Girls1,287#252
2004Girls1,326#243
2003Girls1,356#239
2002Girls1,320#243
Highest Recorded Birth Totals

When Was Nina Most Popular?

Explore the Full Trend

Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.

#1

1980 · Girls

1,889 recorded births

National rank #148

#2

1981 · Girls

1,701 recorded births

National rank #166

#3

1954 · Girls

1,489 recorded births

National rank #206

#4

1999 · Girls

1,437 recorded births

National rank #219

Geographic Popularity

Where Nina Ranked Highest in 2025

View All States

State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.

Girls#73 in DC9 recorded births · records in 12 states

Top States for Girls

StateRankRecorded Births
DC#739
CT#13023
NY#159102
MA#17332
NJ#17945
MI#24437
WA#24629
IL#25641