Nana is a given name that has different origins in several countries across the world. Its use as a feminine or masculine name varies culturally. It is feminine in Japan, Georgia and Greece, and it is masculine in Ethiopia and India, and

epicene Epicenity is the lack of gender distinction, often reducing the emphasis on the masculine to allow the feminine. It includes androgyny – having both masculine and feminine characteristics. The adjective ''gender-neutral'' may describe epicenit ...

(unisex/gender neutral) in Ghana and Indonesia. In

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

, Nana is the fifth most popular given name for girls. In

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

, among the

Akan people The Akan () people live primarily in present-day Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa. The Akan language (also known as ''Twi/Fante'') are a group of dialects within the Central Tano branch of the Potou–Tano subfamily of the Niger–Congo ...

, particularly the

Akyem The Akyem are an Akan people. The term Akyem (Akem, Akim or Aki) is used to describe a group of four states: Asante Akyem, Akyem Abuakwa, Akyem Kotoku and Akyem Bosome. These nations are located primarily in the eastern region in south Ghana. ...

, Ashanti and Akuapim peoples, Nana is used as the title of a monarch to signify their status. Furthermore, the stool name of kings and queens is always preceded by Nana. Non-royal

Ghanaian people The Ghanaian people are a nation originating in the Ghanaian Gold Coast. Ghanaians predominantly inhabit the Republic of Ghana and are the predominant cultural group and residents of Ghana, numbering 30 million people as of 2020, making up 85% ...

also use Nana as a given name. In some cases, they may adopt the name Nana, if they have been named after a monarch. In Ghana, one can respectfully refer to a King or Queen as Nana without mentioning their full name; much like using "Your Highness". In India, nana means father in

Telugu language Telugu (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken by Telugu people predominantly living in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also the official language. It is the most widely spoken member of the Dravidian language fami ...

and grandpa in Hindi, Urdu language from mother side .

People

Acting

* Nana Bryant (1888–1955), an American film actress *

Nana Eikura is a Japanese actress, model, and occasional radio show host affiliated with Ken-On Group. Biography She was born in Izumi, Kagoshima, and raised in Sagamihara, Kanagawa.

(born 1988), a Japanese model and actress *

Nana Jorjadze Nana Jorjadze ( ka, ნანა ჯორჯაძე; born 24 August 1948) is an Academy Award nominated film director, scriptwriter and actress. Jorjadze was born in Tbilisi, and graduated first from a local musical school (1966), and then from ...

(born 1948), a Georgian film director and scriptwriter *

Nana Katase Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People and fictional characters * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana ( ...

(born 1981), a Japanese actress *

Nana Komatsu is a Japanese actress and model. She is best known for her roles in ''The World of Kanako'', ''Destruction Babies'', '' Drowning Love'', '' The Black Devil and the White Prince'', ''My Tomorrow, Your Yesterday'', '' After the Rain'', ''Farewell ...

(born 1996), a Japanese model and actress *

Nana Ama McBrown Felicity Ama Agyemang (born 15 August 1973), popularly known as Nana Ama McBrown, is a Ghanaian actress, TV presenter and a music writer. She rose to prominence for her role in television series ''Tentacles''. Later, she found mainstream success ...

(born 1980), a Ghanaian actress *

Nana Ozaki (actress) is a retired Japanese actress. She is from Toyonaka, Osaka Pref., Japan. Her real name is Toshiko Ishihara, or Toshiko Ozaki in her spinsterhood. In 1969, she won ''the Elan d'Or Prize''. She was active in the various movies, i.e. ''Kaze no Boj ...

, a Japanese actress *

Nana Palsikar Nana Palshikar ( mr, नाना पळशीकर) (1907 – 1 June 1984) was an Indian actor who appeared in over 80 Hindi films. He made his film debut in 1935 with ''Dhuwandhar'', and went on to play character roles in both Hindi mainstream ...

(1907–1984), an Indian film actor *

Nana Patekar Vishwanath Patekar (born 1 January 1951), better known as Nana Patekar, is an Indian actor, screenwriter, film maker, and a former Indian Territorial Army officer, mainly working in Hindi and Marathi cinema. He is regarded as one of the finest a ...

(born 1951), an Indian actor and filmmaker *

Nana Visitor Nana Tucker ( ; born July 26, 1957), known professionally as Nana Visitor, is an American actress, best known for playing Kira Nerys in the television series ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' and Jean Ritter in the television series ''Wildfire''. ...

(born 1957), an American actress *

Nana Yamaguchi is a Japanese actress and voice actress represented by Aoni Production. Some of her major roles are Sally's mom and Sumire in the original ''Sally the Witch'' series, Furu-Furu in '' Majokko Megu-chan'', and Queen Sayuri Kinniku in ''Kinnikuman' ...

(born 1938), a Japanese voice actress *

Nana Yanagisawa is a Japanese fashion model and actress. She appeared in ''Kamen Rider Kiva'' as Megumi Aso, one of the lead heroines. She also starred in '' Kamen Rider Kiva: King of the Castle in the Demon World'' as this role. She also had a guest appearanc ...

(born 1987), a Japanese actress and fashion model

Art

Nana Haruta , is a Japanese manga artist. At the age of 15, she debuted with the short comic ''Ai no Ai Shirushi'' in 2000 and has been since known for her works '' Stardust Wink'' and '' Tsubasa to Hotaru''. Career Haruta published her first story at the ...

(born 1985), a Japanese manga artist * Nana Meskhidze (1936–1997), a Georgian artist-painter

Music

Nana Caymmi Nana Caymmi (b. Dinahir Tostes Caymmi, April 29, 1941) is a Brazilian singer. Caymmi was born in Rio de Janeiro, the daughter of Dorival Caymmi and Stella Maris. Her first appearance on record was on her father's album ''Acalanto''. She married ...

(born 1941), a Brazilian singer *

Nana Hedin Nana Ann-Helene Hedin Pranschke, known as Nana Hedin and also known as Na Na and Nana d'Aquini (born May 24, 1968 in Eskilstuna, Södermanland, Sweden), is a Swedish singer. Career NaNa Hedin started her career in the late 1980s, and worked ...

(born 1968), a Swedish singer *

Nana Kitade is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to being the lead singer of the rock band The Teenage Kissers, she has (or had) success as a solo artist, model, actress, and fashion designer. Kitade is particularly known for her songs ...

(born 1987), a Japanese J-Rock singer *

Nana Mizuki is a Japanese voice actress, singer and narrator from Niihama, Ehime. She is represented by the agency StarCrew. Mizuki was trained as an enka singer, releasing one single under her birth name, Nana Kondō, in 1993 and made her debut as a voice ...

(born 1980), a Japanese voice actress and singer *

Nana Mouskouri Ioanna "Nana" Mouskouri ( el, Ιωάννα "Νάνα" Μούσχουρη ) (born 13 October 1934) is a Greek singer. Over the span of her career, she has released over 200 albums in at least twelve languages, including Greek, French, English, Ger ...

(born 1934), a Greek singer * Nana Okada (singer, born 1959), a Japanese idol and actress *

Nana Okada is a Japanese singer and actress, represented by Avex Asunaro. She is a member of the girl group AKB48 and a former member of STU48. She has been a fixture in AKB48's major single lineups since 2016 and is considered one of the best singers in ...

(born 1997), a Japanese idol and member of the groups

AKB48 AKB48 (pronounced ''A.K.B. Forty-Eight'') is a Japanese idol girl group named after the Akihabara (''Akiba'' for short) area in Tokyo, where the group's theater is located. AKB48's producer, Yasushi Akimoto, wanted to form a girl group with it ...

STU48 STU48 (Setouchi48) is a Japanese idol group and sister group of AKB48 named after the Setouchi Region. The group had a from 2019 to 2021. It is co-owned by the tourism board of Setouchi Region and is highly involved in their promotional efforts ...

* Nana Kwame Abrokwa (born 1968), a German rapper and DJ *

Nana Tanimura , is a Japanese pop singer. Background Tanimura was raised mainly in Osaka. She moved frequently between Osaka and Hawaii between the ages of 3 and 8, after which she also stayed for an extended period of time in Los Angeles. Tanimura was enr ...

(born 1987), a Japanese pop singer *

Naná Vasconcelos Juvenal de Holanda Vasconcelos, known as Naná Vasconcelos (2 August 1944 – 9 March 2016), was a Brazilian percussionist, vocalist and berimbau player, notable for his work as a solo artist on over two dozen albums, and as a backing musician wi ...

(1944-2016), a Brazilian Latin jazz percussionist, vocalist and berimbau player

Politics

Nana Akufo-Addo Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ( ; born 29 March 1944) is a Ghanaian politician who has served as the president of Ghana since 7 January 2017. In 2020, he was re-elected for his second term, which will end on 6 January 2025. Akufo-Addo previously ...

, President of the Republic of Ghana *

Nana (Apache) Kas-tziden ("Broken Foot") or Haškɛnadɨltla ("Angry, He is Agitated"), more widely known by his Mexican-Spanish appellation Nana ("grandma" or "lullaby") (1810 ca. – May 19, 1896), was a warrior and chief of the Chihenne band (better known ...

(1800?-1896), a Chiricahua Apache leader *

Nana Effah-Apenteng Nana Effah-Apenteng was the Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations between May 2000 and 2007. Education Effah-Apenteng attended the University of Ghana at Legon where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Political science in 1968. ...

, the Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations *

Nana Fadnavis Nana Fadnavis (Pronunciation: aːna pʰəɖɳəʋiːs, fəɖ- also Phadnavis and Furnuwees and abbreviated as Phadnis) (February 12, 1742 – March 13, 1800), born Balaji Janardan Bhanu, was an influential minister and statesman of the Marath ...

(1742–1800), an influential minister and statesman of the Maratha Empire in Pune, India *

Nana of Iberia Nana ( ka, ნანა) was a Queen consort of the Kingdom of Iberia as the second wife of Mirian III in the 4th century. For her role in the conversion of Georgians to Christianity she is regarded by the Georgian Orthodox Church as saint and ...

, a 4th-century Georgian queen *

Nana Olomu Nana Olomu (also spelled ''Olumu'') (1852–1916) was an Itsekiri chief and merchant from the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria. He was the fourth Itsekiri chief to hold the position of Governor of Benin River. B Background to conflict with ...

(1852–1916), an Itsekiri chief and merchant from the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria * Nana Osei Bonsu II (born 1939), the regent of the Ashanti Kingdom *

Nana Owusu-Nsiah Nana Stephen Owusu-Nsiah is a police officer and diplomat. He was the Ghanaian ambassador to Israel and a former Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service (IGP). Career Owusu-Nsiah was appointed by President Kufuor as the IGP in ...

, a Ghanaian diplomat and ambassador * Nana Patil (1900-1976), an Indian independence activist *

Nana Sahib Nana Saheb Peshwa II (19 May 1824 – 24 September 1859), born as Dhondu Pant, was an Indian Peshwa of the Maratha empire, aristocrat and fighter, who led the rebellion in Kanpur (Cawnpore) during the Great Revolt of 1857. As the adopted s ...

(1824-?), an Indian leader during the rebellion of 1857 *

Nana Sir Ofori Atta I Nana Sir Ofori Atta I, KBE (11 October 1881 – 21 August 1943) was the Okyenhene or King of the Akyem people and of Akyem Abuakwa, a traditional kingdom that stretches back to the thirteenth century and was one of the most influential kingd ...

(born 1881-1943), a King of Akyem Abuakwa in 1912 *

Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom), Lieutenant Colonel Nana Kofi Twumasi-Ankrah, (born 1979) is a Ghanaians in the United Kingdom, Ghanaian-born officer in the British Army. Appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as her Equerry#United Kingdom, equer ...

(born 1979), Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II

Religion

* Nana of Pécs, a 12th-century bishop in the Kingdom of Hungary * Nana Dharmadhikari (1922–2008), an Indian spiritual guru

Sports

Nana Alexandria Nana Alexandria ( ka, ნანა გიორგის ასული ალექსანდრია, ''Nana Giorgis asuli Aleksandria''; born 13 October 1949) is a Georgian chess player. A three-time Soviet women's champion, she was the c ...

(born 1949), a Georgian chess Grandmaster * Nana Arhin Duah (born 1980), a Ghanaian football player *

Nana Attakora Clement "Nana" Attakora-Gyan (born March 27, 1989), known as Nana Attakora and later Clement Attakora, is a Canadian former soccer player and coach, formerly a player and later assistant manager and director of player personnel of Oakland Roots ...

(born 1989), a Canadian football player * Nana Eshun (born 1969), a Ghanaian football player * Nana Eshun (footballer, born 1982), a Ghanaian football player *

Nana Falemi Ngassam Nana Falemi (born 5 May 1974) is a former footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. Born and raised in Romania to a Cameroonian father and a Romanian mother, he capped for the Cameroon national team. International career Nana F ...

, a Romanian-Cameroonian football player *, Japanese ice hockey player *, Japanese woman footballer *

Nana Ioseliani Nana Ioseliani ( ka, ნანა იოსელიანი; born 12 February 1962) is a Georgian chess player. She was awarded by FIDE the Woman Grandmaster title in 1980 and the International Master title in 1993. Already in 1978 she was ...

(born 1962), a Georgian chess player *

Nana Iwasaka Nana Iwasaka (岩坂名奈 ''Iwasaka Nana'', born July 3, 1990) is a retired Japanese volleyball player who plays for Hisamitsu Springs. Life She was born in 1990 in Fukuoka City. Iwasaka was part of the Japanese national team that won the 2011 ...

(born 1990), a Japanese volleyball player *

Nana Joshi Padmanabh Govind "Nana" Joshi (7 October 1926 – 8 January 1987) was an Indian cricketer who kept wicket for India in 12 Test matches between 1951 and 1960. Personal life Joshi was born in Baroda, Gujarat, India in 1926. His father died whe ...

(1926–1987), a cricketer *

Nana Konadu Nana Yaw Konadu Yeboah (born February 15, 1964) is a Ghanaian former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 2001. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBC super-flyweight title from 1989 to 1990, and the WBA banta ...

(born 1964), a retired Ghanaian boxer * Nana Kuffour (born 1985), a Ghanaian-American soccer player *

Nana Miyagi Nana Smith (born Nana Miyagi; 10 April 1971) is an American-born tennis player who played for Japan. Career Miyagi, a former top-15 player in doubles, played at all the Grand Slam tournaments in both singles and doubles – the Australian Ope ...

(born 1971), a Japanese American tennis player * Nana Ofori-Twumasi (born 1990), a professional Ghanaian-born English footballer *

Nana Takeda is a Japanese former figure skater. She is the 2007 NHK Trophy bronze medalist and 2009 Winter Universiade silver medalist. She won five medals on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series and placed as high as fourth at the World Junior Championships. ...

(born 1988), a Japanese figure skater

Other

Nana Asma’u Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People and fictional characters * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana ( ...

(1793–1864), a poet, teacher and a revered figure in northern Nigeria * Nana Chudasama, an eminent jurist, former mayor and Sheriff of Mumbai * Nana Nánabeszter, a 13th century Hungarian nobleman and soldier *

Nana Natsume is a Japanese film actress, a former AV idol and a well-known celebrity in Japan. Life and career Natsume was born on January 23, 1980 in Sakai, Osaka, Japan (Her birthdate has usually been reported as 1982 and it is still listed as such on her ...

(born 1980), a Japanese former AV idol and celebrity *

Nana Ozaki Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People and fictional characters * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana ...

, a Japanese gravure idol

Fictional characters

* Nana Dawson, a character in ''Heroes'' * Nana Komatsu (Nana), a character in the Japanese manga ''Nana'' *

Nana McQueen The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' in 2007, by order of first appearance. Father Raymond Father Raymond is the Catholic Priest that first appeared to console Myra McQueen ( Nic ...

, a character in ''Hollyoaks'' *

Nana Moon Victoria "Nana" Moon is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', played by Hilda Braid. In a special episode, Kate Colgrave Pope played her as a 24-year-old in a flashback episode from 1944. She was introduced alongside her ...

, a character in the popular British BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' * Nana Osaki, a character in the Japanese manga ''Nana'' *

Nana Oyl Olive Oyl is a cartoon character created by E. C. Segar in 1919 for his comic strip '' Thimble Theatre''. The strip was later renamed ''Popeye'' after the sailor character that became the most popular member of the cast; however, Olive Oyl was ...

, the mother of cartoon character

Olive Oyl Olive Oyl is a cartoon character created by E. C. Segar in 1919 for his comic strip ''Thimble Theatre''. The strip was later renamed ''Popeye'' after the sailor character that became the most popular member of the cast; however, Olive Oyl was a ...

Nana Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to: People and fictional characters * Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name * Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname * Nana ( ...

, the Newfoundland dog nurse of Wendy, John and Michael in ''Peter Pan'' *

, the protagonist of

Émile Zola Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (, also , ; 2 April 184029 September 1902) was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of naturalism, and an important contributor to the development of ...

's novel, ''Nana'' *

, a character in the

Elfen Lied is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Lynn Okamoto. It was originally serialized in Shueisha's ''Weekly Young Jump'' from June 2002 to August 2005, with the 107 chapters collected into twelve ''tankōbon'' volumes. ''Elfen ...

series * Nana Shimura, a character in the popular Japanese manga, ''

My Hero Academia is a Japanese superhero manga series written and illustrated by Kōhei Horikoshi. It has been serialized in Shueisha's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Jump'' since July 2014, with its chapters additionally collected into ...

'' * Nana, a rabbit character from ''

Cyborg Kuro-chan is a Japanese children's manga series created by , serialized in Kodansha's ''Comic BomBom'' magazine. Eleven volumes of the manga were released between 1998 and 2002. It centers on the titular character, a housecat who is kidnapped and m ...

'' * Nana Hiiragi, the protagonist in the Japanese manga, ''

Talentless Nana is a Japanese manga series written by Looseboy and illustrated by Iori Furuya. It has been serialized in Square Enix's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''Monthly Shōnen Gangan'' since May 2016 and has been collected in ten ''tankōbon'' volumes. ...

'' * Nana, a character in the novel ''

Transcendent Kingdom ''Transcendent Kingdom'' is the second novel by Ghanaian-American author Yaa Gyasi, published in 2020 by Alfred A. Knopf. ''Transcendent Kingdom'' was found in Literary Hub to have made 17 lists of the best books of 2020. Summary The novel follow ...

'' by Yaa Gyasi. * Nana Sunohara, a character from the Japanese manga ''

Miss Caretaker of Sunohara-sou is a Japanese romantic comedy four-panel manga series by Nekoume. It has been serialized in Ichijinsha's ''seinen'' magazine ''Manga 4-Koma Palette'' from 2014 until 2022, after which it was moved to '' Monthly Comic Rex''. There have been ...

References

{{given name Georgian feminine given names Japanese feminine given names Indian masculine given names Ghanaian culture Akan given names Greek feminine given names