William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
Nino
BoySpanish, Italian· “little boy; also short for Giannino”
- Meaning
- little boy; also short for Giannino
- Origin
- Spanish, Italian
- Pronunciation
- NEE-noh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3,728
- US babies 2025
- 30
- Best rank
- #1,356 (1968)
- Peak year
- 1998
Meaning and origin of Nino
Nino is a Spanish and Italian name that is usually said to mean “little boy; also short for Giannino”.
Nino has two separate roots. In Spanish, niño simply means boy or little child, the word heard in El Niño, the name given to the Christ Child and later to the Pacific weather pattern. In Italian, Nino is a pet form of names ending in -nino, especially Giannino and Antonino, and it also stands alone as a given name. In Georgia, Nino is a girls' name honoring Saint Nino, who brought Christianity to the country, though in the United States it is used for boys. It is said NEE-noh. It is short, warm and informal, with an easy Mediterranean sound.
Popularity over time
Nino first appears in US Social Security records in 1912. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,356 in 1968, and the most babies received it in 1998, when 54 were named Nino. In 2025, 30 babies were named Nino, and it ranked #3,728 nationally. That is 27% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #3,136 in 1920, #3,238 in 1950, #2,342 in 1980, #2,164 in 2000, #3,058 in 2010, and #3,728 in 2025. Of the 2,719 US boys named Nino since records began, 15% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 389 babies. Since 2010, 632 more have been named Nino.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Johnathen, Khaleel, Shareef, Joeseph, and Chanse.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 97% of US babies named Nino over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
Nino is usually pronounced NEE-noh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with N and ends in “-no”.
Middle names for Nino
A few middle names that flow with Nino: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nino
Similar names
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Lists that include Nino
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nino mean?
Nino is a Spanish and Italian name that is usually said to mean “little boy; also short for Giannino”.
What is the origin of the name Nino?
Nino has Spanish and Italian roots. Nino has two separate roots.
Is Nino a popular name?
Not especially. Nino ranked #3,728 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Nino a boy or girl name?
Nino is mainly a boy's name. About 97% of US babies named Nino over the last 20 years were boys, with a small share of girls.
How do you pronounce Nino?
Nino is usually pronounced NEE-noh. 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