Gina

Gina began as a familiar form of several longer names. Regina gives it a connection with the Latin word for queen, while Eugenia carries the Greek idea of being well born. Luigina and Georgina provide other routes, so Gina does not have one meaning that applies to every family’s use.

Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida, whose full given name was Luigina, helped make the short form internationally recognizable. Later bearers such as Gina Rodriguez and Gina Torres show its independent use as a complete first name. Geena is a related English spelling. For a family using Gina to honor someone, the intended longer name supplies the most accurate history; when chosen independently, Gina can be valued for its own established cultural life.