Tina

Tina is a familiar form of names ending in -tina, including Christina and Martina. Its meaning therefore depends on the longer name behind it: Christina refers to a Christian, while Martina belongs to the Roman Martinus family. Tina can also stand on its own, without a longer formal name being used at all.

Its bearers illustrate that variety. Tina Fey was born Elizabeth, while Tina Turner was born Anna Mae, so neither public name needs to be explained as a shortening of Christina. For a family choosing Tina as an honor name, the particular person's story may matter more than any single dictionary translation. The compact spelling has a substantial history of independent use.