NADIA  

Gender: F
Origin: Russian, Eastern European
Meaning: "hope"

Popularity in 2008: #219

Exotic but accessible, this Slavic favorite, which took on added energy and charm when Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci won the 1976 Olympics, is currently enjoying a leap in popularity.

Variations:
Nadja, Nadea, Nadijah, Nadija, Nadene, Nadeen, Nadiah, Nadjah, Nadira, Nadie

International Variations:
Nadége (French) Nadine (German) Nadine (Italian) Nadina (Latvian) Nadezhda, Nadzia, Nata (Polish) Nadyuska, Dusya, Nadyenka, Nadenka, Nadya, Nadiya, Nadka, Nada, Nadysha (Russian)

Nadia is being discussed in our message boards:

• Triple A, Triple B, Triple C... Girls!
• narrowing my list...need help
• French CAF with namebanks...
• First To Last Girls
• This or That? Boy-Girl Twins

Read Nameberry blog posts about Nadia:

• HEROINE NAMES: Worthy Women with Notable Names, Part 2: Cultural Icons
• EXOTIC LITE: Girls' Edition
• RUSSIAN GIRLS' NAMES
• RUSSIAN BABY NAMES
• NEW YEAR BABY NAMES