Nandini is a feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, meaning 'giver of joy'. It is composed of two parts: 'nanda', which means happiness or joy, and 'ni', a suffix that denotes the gift or bestower of that quality. In Hindu culture, Nandini is also associated with the divine cow who nourished and sustained young Krishna, an avatar of the god Vishnu. Traditionally, this name has been popular in India but it has gained recognition globally due to its unique sound and meaning.
The name Nandini experienced significant popularity growth from the late 1990s to early 2000s, peaking at 56 births in 2006 and staying relatively high until around 2014. However, it has seen a decline since then, with only 18 births recorded in 2023. Overall, there have been 909 births named Nandini from 1973 to 2023.