Nina
Say it: NEE-na/ˈniːnə/
Girl4 letters2 syllables
#112
in Ireland (2025)
#114 with spellings combined
41
babies in 2025
#85
best rank (2020)
1,137
babies since 1967
Down 8
10-year rank change
Nina through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 41 | #114 |
| 2024 | 49 | #96 |
| 2023 | 50 | #101 |
| 2022 | 63 | #89 |
| 2021 | 58 | #95 |
| 2020 | 63 | #85 |
| 2019 | 46 | #122 |
| 2018 | 49 | #119 |
| 2017 | 62 | #99 |
| 2016 | 42 | #140 |
| 2015 | 58 | #106 |
| 2014 | 40 | #147 |
| 2013 | 51 | #119 |
| 2012 | 39 | #146 |
| 2011 | 38 | #159 |
| 2010 | 43 | #144 |
| 2009 | 39 | #158 |
| 2008 | 19 | #272 |
| 2007 | 24 | #212 |
| 2006 | 21 | #210 |
| 2005 | 12 | #300 |
| 2004 | 13 | #272 |
| 2003 | 12 | #279 |
| 2002 | 10 | #312 |
| 2001 | 10 | #302 |
| 2000 | 6 | #379 |
| 1999 | 5 | #393 |
| 1998 | 5 | #381 |
| 1997 | 5 | #440 |
| 1996 | 4 | #471 |
| 1995 | 3 | #516 |
| 1994 | 3 | #502 |
| 1990 | 4 | #446 |
| 1989 | 3 | #503 |
| 1987 | 4 | #446 |
| 1986 | 4 | #458 |
| 1985 | 3 | #519 |
| 1984 | 7 | #365 |
| 1983 | 3 | #529 |
| 1982 | 4 | #467 |
| 1981 | 6 | #386 |
| 1980 | 12 | #297 |
| 1979 | 16 | #261 |
| 1978 | 10 | #315 |
| 1977 | 8 | #348 |
| 1976 | 8 | #329 |
| 1975 | 11 | #282 |
| 1974 | 8 | #324 |
| 1973 | 7 | #349 |
| 1972 | 15 | #237 |
| 1971 | 6 | #349 |
| 1970 | 6 | #326 |
| 1969 | 6 | #322 |
| 1967 | 3 | #393 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Nina mean?
Uncertain
Came into English in the nineteenth century from Russian Nina and from Italian pet forms of names ending in -nina.
Say it right
NEEna
The story of Nina
Nina reached English by more than one road in the nineteenth century. Some of it came from Russian, where Nina is the name of a fourth-century saint honoured in Georgia, also known as Nino. Where her name came from is obscure. Some of it came from Italian, where Nina grew out of pet forms such as Annina, from Anna, and Giovannina, from Giovanna. Similar short names turn up in many other languages, often as a nickname for longer names ending in -ina.
With roots this mixed, there is no single meaning to give it, so it is left as uncertain here.
In Ireland Nina first reached the list in 1967 and was given to a handful of girls most years after that. It became more common from the 2000s and had its best year in 2020, when 63 girls were named Nina and it reached number 83 on the CSO list. It has done a little better in Northern Ireland lately, where it reached 63rd in 2024.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Nina (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Nina (name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Nina | 41 | 1,137 |
In Northern Ireland
#74 in 2025 with 28 babies. Best rank #63 (2024); 356 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.