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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Nina

94 replies

PinkCheetah · 31/10/2021 19:46

What do you think? I've liked the name Nina for years and found out last week I'm having a little girl. 🥰 It's not a name I hear often at all really and I don't know anyone personally with this name I just wonder if maybe it's outdated or old fashion?

Other names I've considered are Margot or Matilda.

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Motherofcats007 · 31/10/2021 22:18

Love Nina x

Snowdropsandbluebells · 31/10/2021 22:20

It's beautiful

lnsufficientFuns · 31/10/2021 22:21

[quote DramaAlpaca]@AosSi Haha, yes indeed! Hello near neighbour Grin[/quote]
Ha! I have rellies in Nenagh

SunShinesBrightly · 31/10/2021 22:22

Love the name Nina ❤️

Bogoroditse · 31/10/2021 22:26

I have a Nina. It works brilliantly in various languages spoken by my international family and it is elegant and reminds me of blue skies for some reason. We do call her Neenaw Nina because she's a bit of a hell raiser/force of nature (despite blonde ringlets and beautiful manners). We've only met 2 others in her 7 years so while not being too odd, the name is pleasingly uncommon. Go for it!

Orphlids · 31/10/2021 22:27

My DD’s best friend is called Nina, and she’s the most fabulous little thing, clever, funny, kind and beautiful. I love the name. Established but uncommon, and will suit at all stages of life. Not cutesy or flowery, but has a lovely soft sound. Excellent choice.

juicylemon · 31/10/2021 22:30

I know an Antonia who goes by Nina.

jennytogether · 31/10/2021 22:39

I have a 3 year old Nina. It always seems to get a good response! I’ve met 3 others in my life… one aged 35, one aged 40 and one also 3. X

TheGallopingGourmet · 31/10/2021 22:40

I love Nina. It would have been my name for a daughter. Also love Esther

jennytogether · 31/10/2021 22:42

@TheGallopingGourmet this is so weird! We have a Nina, and are about to have a little girl who we’re calling Esther…!

yikesanotherbooboo · 31/10/2021 23:09

Nina is lovely.
I'm not a fan of Margot; too current and rather a 'hard'name .
I like Matilda .

noblegreenk · 31/10/2021 23:22

I love Nina! It was on my shortlist of girls names but dh wasn't keen.

Original poster
PinkCheetah · 01/11/2021 00:12

Feeling more positive about the name, thanks all! Yes the "Ned naw" is annoying but I'll get over it I think.

OP posts:
DragonMamma · 01/11/2021 00:18

I love Nina and it was on my list for years!

MissCruellaDeVil · 01/11/2021 00:25

It's a lovely name and it's making a bit of a comeback, one of my close friends just called her baby Nina! There is one in my class too.

BabyBearRus · 01/11/2021 00:28

I like it. Not heard it for ages. So hopefully would be unique to the year in which your little girl is born. Good luck. I think you'll know if she's a Nina when you finally meet her x

Mediumred · 01/11/2021 00:45

I have a Nina! She’s a young teen and there is one other in her year, plus next door’s granddaughter (about 4) is a Nina.

It was partly inspired by a cool workmate in 90s clerkenwell and also a friend’s mum when I was growing up in the 70s who seemed to have a touch of suburban glamour about her. It’s such a great name!

IsMaithLiomLeaba · 01/11/2021 01:11

My DD is Nina, we love it Smile I wondered the same thing about why it's so uncommon, still haven't come up with anything

TrampolineForMrKite · 01/11/2021 01:13

I know a very nice Nina. Pretty name and has nice connotations for me.

UsernameIsHarderThanBabyName · 01/11/2021 07:00

Gorgeous name. Was on our list

Boofay · 01/11/2021 07:15

I'm Nina. I'm a 40 year old Nina in fact.
Here's some thoughts I'd had about my name in my lifetime.

It's unusual - I've not heard of many Nina's at all growing up. More popular these days but still quite uncommon.

The emergency vehicle siren thing is real. My childhood was spent with people going "Neeenooor! Neeeeenoooor!" It used to annoy me greatly as a kid. People wouldn't dare say that to me these days.

The rarity of my name has meant people remember my name easily.

It's nice and short, so easy to spell (for most! 😬)

Unlike what someone said above, it absolutely can and will be shortened. Lots of people try to call me Neens, Neen or Ne. It's annoying and only my dad was allowed to call me that. Also nicknames include Neeny and Neenooo.

Expect some people to pronounce it wrong even though it's an easy name to say.

All in all, I like my name and I'm glad I was called Nina.

Amdone123 · 01/11/2021 07:54

I think the reason you don't hear many is because it's a hidden gem. I can see it rising in popularity but that wouldn't put me off.
I don't like Margot. Much prefer Martha, Esther, Nancy.
Love Matilda.

Original poster
PinkCheetah · 01/11/2021 10:18

@Boofay

I'm Nina. I'm a 40 year old Nina in fact. Here's some thoughts I'd had about my name in my lifetime.

It's unusual - I've not heard of many Nina's at all growing up. More popular these days but still quite uncommon.

The emergency vehicle siren thing is real. My childhood was spent with people going "Neeenooor! Neeeeenoooor!" It used to annoy me greatly as a kid. People wouldn't dare say that to me these days.

The rarity of my name has meant people remember my name easily.

It's nice and short, so easy to spell (for most! 😬)

Unlike what someone said above, it absolutely can and will be shortened. Lots of people try to call me Neens, Neen or Ne. It's annoying and only my dad was allowed to call me that. Also nicknames include Neeny and Neenooo.

Expect some people to pronounce it wrong even though it's an easy name to say.

All in all, I like my name and I'm glad I was called Nina.

Your reply was so useful and a good insight for someone who has actually lived with the name. I can't believe people can still get the pronunciation wrong! 😂
OP posts:
Original poster
PinkCheetah · 01/11/2021 10:20

@Amdone123

I think the reason you don't hear many is because it's a hidden gem. I can see it rising in popularity but that wouldn't put me off. I don't like Margot. Much prefer Martha, Esther, Nancy. Love Matilda.
I love Nancy! I dismissed it because it didn't sound right with the surnames, but now thinking about it again.
OP posts:
Caspianberg · 01/11/2021 10:25

We liked Nina, but then asked 3 people and they all said ‘ sounds like an ambulance’..
We had a boy in the end, but it did put me off a bit even though it’s a really nice name.

Nora
Alma
Nell