Given name & surname · also Hawaiian
Nana
“born during the spring; a star”·“a grandmother or one who watches over children”
Nana is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “born during the spring; a star” and “a grandmother or one who watches over children”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “born during the spring; a star” and “a grandmother or one who watches over children”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Hawaiian and English naming traditions.
How it developed
In Cebuano usage, Nana is a diminutive of Ana. In Cebuano usage, Nana is a diminutive of BELINA.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1881. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Nana through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,396
- 866 boys · 2,530 girls
- Most popular year
- 2000
- 70 babies
- 2025
- 32
- #5,773 for boys · #7,045 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −30%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 50% boys.
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 16 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 7,045 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 28.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 47 in 2000. It also appeared in 16 birth records for boys in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 7,719 as a first name in 2020; 770 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Nana’s family of names
In Cebuano usage, Nana is a diminutive of Ana. In Old High German usage, Nana has a related form in Nanna. In Cebuano usage, Nana is a diminutive of BELINA.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Nana has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its English roots to each of them.
12 related names in 5 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 10
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
- Nanahlikely spelling
- Нанаin another script · Russian
- 奈也original script · Japanese
- 奈々original script · Japanese
- 奈菜original script · Japanese
- 菜奈original script · Japanese
- ななoriginal script · Japanese
- 七original script · Japanese
Show 2 moreShow fewer
Across languages 20
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Nana
- Nana Akufo-AddoPresident of Ghana from 2017 to 2025born 1944
- Nana MouskouriGreek singer (born 1934)
- Nana PatekarIndian philanthropist, writer, flim actor and film maker (born 1951)
- Nana AlexandriaGeorgian chess playerborn 1949
- Nana VisitorAmerican actress (born 1957)
- Nana AsmaʼuNigerian princess and poet1793–1864
- Nana MizukiJapanese singer, voice actress and narrator (born 1980)
- Nana DzagnidzeGeorgian chess playerborn 1987
- Nana Saheb Peshwa IIIndian rebel (1824–1859)1820–1859
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Nana, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Arley
“from the hare's meadow”
68% boys · 32% girls
Leighton
“from the town near the meadow”
26% boys · 74% girls
Morgen
“circling the bright sea; a sea dweller”
38% boys · 62% girls
Chandler
“a candlemaker” · “one who makes candles”
63% boys · 37% girls
Aven
“of the river”
68% boys · 32% girls
Skyler
“one who is learned; a scholar” · “a fugitive”
44% boys · 56% girls
Drew
“one who is wise”
67% boys · 33% girls
Hayden
“from the hedged valley”
68% boys · 32% girls