Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Ina
GirlLatin, German· “short form of names ending in -ina”
- Meaning
- short form of names ending in -ina
- Origin
- Latin, German
- Pronunciation
- EE-nuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #2,627
- US babies 2025
- 66
- Best rank
- #145 (1881)
- Peak year
- 1921
Meaning and origin of Ina
Ina is a Latin and German name that is usually said to mean “short form of names ending in -ina”.
Ina is a short form of names ending in -ina, such as Christina, Georgina and Wilhelmina, and it has long been used as a name in its own right in German, Dutch and Scandinavian countries. Because it began as an ending, its meaning depends on which longer name it came from, and many families simply choose it for its brevity. It is said EE-nuh, although some English speakers say EYE-nuh. With three letters it is one of the shortest names in use. Ina Garten, the cookbook author and television host, has made it familiar to many Americans.
Popularity over time
Ina has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 87 different years. Its best national rank was #145 in 1881, and the most babies received it in 1921, when 745 were named Ina. In 2025, 66 babies were named Ina, and it ranked #2,627 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #251 in 1920, #493 in 1950, #2,077 in 1980, #3,419 in 2000, #4,656 in 2010, and #2,627 in 2025. Of the 34,074 US girls named Ina since records began, 20% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1930s come next, with 5,534 babies. Since 2010, 768 more have been named Ina.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ola, Eleanore, Etta, Jewel, and Elinor.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ina ranked highest in California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #1384 | 17 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Ina is usually pronounced EE-nuh, with two syllables. It has three letters, starts with I and ends in “-na”.
Middle names for Ina
A few middle names that flow with Ina: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ina
Similar names
Una Girl
OO-nuh
“lamb (Irish) or one (Latin)” · Irish
#3,245
Lena Girl
LEE-nuh
“short form of Helena or Magdalena” · German
#279
Jana Girl
JA-nuh
“God is gracious” · Czech
#1,247
Tina Girl
TEE-nuh
“short form of names ending in -tina” · English
#2,815
Senna Girl
SEN-uh
“possibly the senna plant, or Arabic brilliance” · Arabic
#1,757
Luna Girl
LOO-nuh
“moon” · Latin
#27
Dayana Girl
dah-YAH-nuh
“form of Diana; divine” · Spanish
#716
Johanna Girl
joh-HA-nuh
“Yahweh is gracious” · German
#871
Tiana Girl
tee-AH-nuh
“short form of Christiana or Tatiana” · American (modern coinage)
#598
Mina Girl
MEE-nuh
“short form of names like Wilhelmina” · German
#597
Raina Girl
RAY-nuh
“possibly queen” · Slavic
#916
Vienna Girl
vee-EH-nuh
“the capital of Austria” · Latin
#434
Lists that include Ina
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ina mean?
Ina is a Latin and German name that is usually said to mean “short form of names ending in -ina”.
What is the origin of the name Ina?
Ina has Latin and German roots. Ina is a short form of names ending in -ina, such as Christina, Georgina and Wilhelmina, and it has long been used as a name in its own right in German, Dutch and Scandinavian countries.
Is Ina a popular name?
Not especially. Ina ranked #2,627 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Ina a boy or girl name?
Ina is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Ina?
Ina is usually pronounced EE-nuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings