This literary heroine’s first name is the 42nd most given female first name in France since 2000.

Seeking inspiration in great French or foreign literary works allows you to exercise the imagination of future parents and why not find their favorite for their future child. Doctissimo has chosen to highlight a female first name worn by a heroine by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov.

The seagull, symbol of Nina’s story

The Seagull is a play in 4 acts written by the famous Russian playwright Anton Chekhov in 1896. The seagull is the symbol of the story of Nina, loved by Konstantin who wrote a play for her. The first name Nina is the Russian diminutive of Anne. It draws its roots from Hebrew hannah which means “grace”. Nina is also the abbreviated form of Christiana, Antonina and first names ending in “ina”. According to the authors of the book L’Officiel des Prénoms (First Editions), in the 4th century, Saint Nina, or Christiane ( the name which designated her as a Christian), would have converted the royal family of Georgia and spread the faith throughout the country. Her popularity ensured the diffusion of the first name throughout the Slavic countries and then in the Spanish-speaking countries (Nina means “. little girl” in Spanish). It is therefore no coincidence that Anton Chekhov used this first name in his play. Nina spread in Europe and English-speaking countries from the 19th century, but its popularity is recent in France, at the origin of its take-off in France, were quick to adopt it and propel it into the top 30 female ranks at the beginning of the 2000s. This Parisian trend then developed at the national level. where Nina flourishes in the top 20!

Beyond the character of Chekhov, other famous people have this first name. This is particularly the case of Nina Ricci, Franco-Italian fashion designer (1883-1970); Nina Simone, American singer (1933-2003); Anna Maria Agusti Flores, known as Nina, Catalan actress and singer famous in Spain, born in 1966.

Nina, a short first name that enjoys great popularity

According to the experts of the book L’Officiel des Prénoms, Nina is the 42nd most given female first name in France since the year 2000. This first name is given to nearly one in 175 girls today. This first name responds to a strong trend for several years: the fashion for short first names. Moreover, the authors of the reference work on first names reveal some ideas for first names of 1 to 2 syllables which will undoubtedly get people talking: Alba, Alix, Alma, Alya, Ambre, Anna, Anouk, Aria , Ava, Aya, Billie, Camille, Charlie, Chloé, Diane, Éden, Ella, Ellie, Emna, Emy, Esmée, Éva, Flora, Gaby, Hope, Inès, Iris, Isla, Izia, Jade, Jazz, Jeanne, Joy , Julia, June, Kenza, Léna, Leya, Lila, Lily, Lina, Lise, Liv, Lola, Lou, Louise, Luna, Lya, Maddy, Maé, Maya, Mia, Mila, Naé, Naya, Nelya, Nina, Nora (h), Nour, Pia, Romy, Rose, Sara(h), Sasha, Sofia, Tess, Thaïs, Théa, Uma, Yuna, Zia.

Nina, in the top 10 female compound first names in 2024

If Nina’s success is undeniable, it is also undeniable in its composed form. Indeed, here are the top 10 feminine compound first names, estimated for the year 2024. The ranking was made in descending order of attribution:

1. Lily-Rose
2. Lou-Ann(e)
3. Anna-Rose
4. Marie-Lou
5. Fatima zahra
6. Lila-Rose (taking into account the Lilac-Pink and Lylla-Rose variants, Lila-Rose would move into 2nd position ahead of Lou-Ann.)
7. Nina-Rose
8. Mai-Ly
9. Léa-Rose
10. Emma-Rose

Enough to inspire many future parents to name their little girl.

Slide: Top 20 compound names for girls