Nina — Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Nina is a girls' name of Russian/Spanish origin, meaning "little girl; grace". Four letters, easy everywhere — Nina Simone's grace is the deep reference.

Style & feel. With short and international on its style card, Nina sits comfortably in the modern naming landscape — familiar enough that nobody misreads it, distinctive enough that your child won't share it with three classmates. At 2 syllables, it flows across most middle-name combinations and survives every life stage from playground to résumé.

Pairing ideas. Nina pairs naturally with one- and two-syllable middles (Mila, Mia share its sound-world). If you like Nina, you'll probably also love Mila, Mia, Ana — same era, same energy, same bone structure.