Nadia

Origin and meaning of Nadia

Nadia comes from the Russian Nadya, a diminutive of Nadezhda, 'hope' — a word that distils trust and a calm expectation of the future. Through the Russian ballet and Slavic culture it spread across Europe, taking hold in Italy, France and the English-speaking world; it also occurs in the Arab world with a kindred meaning. Short, sweet and international, it is prized for its musicality and its positive, auspicious message.

Variants around the world

How Nadia is said in other languages.

Famous people

• Nadia Comăneci— athlete
• Nadia Boulanger— composer