Nana Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'Nana' has African and Japanese roots, meaning 'king' or 'queen' in some cultures and referring to the number seven in Japanese. It has evolved through different cultural contexts and retains a sense of warmth. Although it does not have biblical relevance, it is widely recognized in various media and has variants that reflect its diverse usage.
The name Nana is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Nana has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Nana' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 5640th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4426th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 3823rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4766th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1765th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1971st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2768th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4110th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 4231st out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4297th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6191st out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Nana' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Nana"
Pronunciation
/ˈnɑːnə/
Origin
African, Japanese
Etymology
In some African cultures, 'Nana' is a title of respect, often meaning 'king' or 'queen.' In Japanese, it can refer to the number seven or be used as a term of endearment.
Meaning
king, queen, seven, beloved
Language Evolution
Nana (African origin), Nana (Japanese origin)
Historical Usage
The name has gained popularity in various cultures, especially in African communities and among Japanese speakers. It has been used in literature and media, contributing to its recognition.
Variants & Derivatives
Nani, Nanae, Nana-chan
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, 'Nana' is often viewed positively, associated with warmth and affection, particularly in familial contexts.
Famous People
Nana Mouskouri (singer), Nana (Korean singer and actress), Nana Komatsu (Japanese actress)
Explore More Nana Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Nana"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Nana"
"Nana" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 5640th of 10718 | 50 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 4426th of 16616 | 173 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 3823rd of 24088 | 382 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4766th of 23106 | 245 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1765th of 9107 | 390 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1971st of 9204 | 326 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2768th of 12526 | 326 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 4110th of 19264 | 234 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 4231st of 27321 | 352 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 4297th of 35406 | 508 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 6191st of 30306 | 237 |
Regional Popularity of "Nana" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
44.20% 1978th/4475 |
- | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
36.27% 1873rd/5164 |
46.37% 3391st/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
58.52% 2626th/4487 |
- | - |
Regional Popularity of "Nana" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
86.51% 1225th/1416 |
- |
78.32% 1853rd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
100.00% 2353rd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - |
100.00% 2775th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
100.00% 3483rd/3483 |
- |
76.78% 3105th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
100.00% 3685th/3685 |
42.84% 1917th/4475 |
- |
69.27% 4376th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
40.94% 2114th/5164 |
64.93% 4748th/7313 |
66.78% 4984th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
59.97% 2691st/4487 |
100.00% 6822nd/6822 |
- |
State-by-State Popularity of "Nana"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Nana" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.