Nadia is a feminine given name widely used in Western European languages including English, French, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Ukrainian, as well as in Bulgarian and Russian. It is a variant of the Slavic name Nadya, which itself is a diminutive of Nadezhda, meaning "hope" in Russian and Bulgarian. Etymology The name Nadezhda directly translates to "hope" in Slavic languages. Via the affectionate short form Nadya, it entered Western European usage, notably in France during the 19th century. The French adaptation Nadine also emerged as a diminutive. Notable Bearers The name gained international prominence due to Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci (born 1961), who scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history at the 1976 Montreal Games. Her fame boosted the name's popularity across Europe and the Americas. Forms in Other Languages Besides Nadia and Nadya, related forms include Bulgarian Nadka, Ukrainian Nadiia and Nadiya, Belarusian Nadzeya, Catalan Nàdia, Slovene Nada, Serbian Nadica, Czech Naděžda and its diminutive Naďa. Meaning: hope Origin: Slavic, via Russian and Bulgarian Nadezhda Type: Given name (feminine) Usage Regions: Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Americas