Nena

The first name Nena is a feminine form that is considered a childish babbling form of Nina, a short form of Italian names that end with '-nina'. Examples include Antonina, which means 'of the family of the Antonii', or Giannina, which means 'God is gracious'.

What does the name Nena mean?

Nena is used in Spanish-speaking regions as a nickname and means 'the little girl', 'the small one', or 'doll'. The root of the name lies in the Spanish word 'nena', which means 'girl' and is interpreted as a term of endearment for girls, thus as 'pretty, good, lovely girl' or 'little girl'. In Germany, the name gained recognition through the pop singer Nena, who became particularly famous in the 1980s, especially with her hit '99 Luftballons'.

Where does the name Nena come from?

The name Nena has its roots in Old Italian and means 'the little girl'. The word formation consists of 'nena' for girl, which is also regarded as a term of endearment for a girl, meaning pretty, good, lovely, or little girl. The name is used in the German language.

How do you pronounce Nena?

The pronunciation of Nena is clear and two-syllable. In German, the name is usually pronounced as 'Ne-na' [ˈneːna]. It begins with a long E sound that conveys brightness, and the open A at the end adds warmth to the sound. This makes Nena appear simple and friendly – harmonious, modern, and sonically balanced.

When is the name day of Nena?

The name days for Nena are January 27, February 29, and May 6.

Popularity

In Germany, Nena is among the frequently chosen first names. Currently, it ranks 1,514th on the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2008 at rank 933. In the last ten years, Nena has been chosen as a first name about 180 times, placing it 1,729th in the ten-year statistics. For the period from 2010 to 2024, it is ranked 1,855th.

Nicknames & pet names

Leni / Nelli / Nen / Nenalein / Nenchen / Nenella / Neni / Nenilein

Famous people

• Nena Ainhoren (Brazilian actress)
• Nena Birgitte Thurman (Swedish model)
• Nena Cardenas (American actress)
• Nena Gabriele Susanne Kerner (singer)
• Nena Lekovic (Australian singer)
• Nena Ristic (Swiss model)
• Nena Venetsanou (Greek singer)