Ninian: Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

At a Glance

Origin
Brythonic (origin disputed)
Gender
Boy
Pronunciation
NIN-ee-un

Ninian is a Brythonic (origin disputed) boy's name. It appears in 3 of our baby name lists.

Meaning & Origin of Ninian

Origin: Brythonic (origin disputed).

A common claim: Ninian is sometimes said to mean 'sacred' or 'pure.' Actually: There's no solid evidence for this -- the name's actual root is uncertain, likely an altered form of an older British name rather than a word meaning 'sacred' or 'pure.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Ninian

NIN-ee-unIPA /ˈnɪniən/

Popularity of Ninian

Ninian doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.

Lists That Include Ninian

Similar Names

Cormac · Columba · Conall · Aidan · Fingal · Gall

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