Entry № 1311 · Japanese, Akan, Greek origin

Nana Nana — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ NAH-nah /

Gender

Girl

Origin

Japanese, Akan, Greek

Meaning

"Seven (Japanese); grandmother (Greek)"

Syllables

Rank · US 2025

№ 0

First recorded

Ancient (multiple)

The meaning

A name that means "seven (japanese); grandmother (greek)".

Nana has parallel meanings. In Japanese (七), it means "seven" — the number of completeness. In Greek and many languages, Nana is the affectionate term for grandmother. In Akan, Nana is a royal title for both kings and queens.

Nana is the iconic dog-nanny in J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan; the manga and anime Nana by Ai Yazawa is a cultural phenomenon.

Seven in Japanese. Royal title in Akan.

In its original form

The name in its native script.

七

Transliteration: Nana
Pronunciation: / ˈnɑː.nə /
Root: —
Grammatical form: —

Popularity

Where Nana stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 0 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 0 in 0

Babies named Nana · last year

87 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Nanas before her.

Real people

Nana Mizuki

Japanese voice actress and singer.

born 1980

Nana Mouskouri

Greek singer.

born 1934

In fiction

Nana Osaki

Heroine of Nana.

Ai Yazawa, 2000

Nana

Dog-nanny in Peter Pan.

J.M. Barrie, 1904

Names connected to Nana.

Numerology

The number behind Nana.

The Pioneer

Nana reduces to one — the number of Japanese seven.

Parents on Nana

Why families chose this name.

"Seven in Japanese. Four letters. Nana."

Yuko · Mother of one · Tokyo