Ninochka

Ninochka is a Russian diminutive pet form of Nina, itself a name of debated origin that may derive from the Georgian royal name Nino, the Hebrew name Hannah meaning grace, or the ancient Assyrian goddess Ninâ. The affectionate suffix -ochka gives the name a tender, familiar quality typical of Russian hypocoristics. It gained international recognition largely through the 1939 Ernst Lubitsch film Ninotchka, in which Greta Garbo played a Soviet envoy, though that spelling reflects a slightly different romanization. Related forms include Nina, Nino, and Ninette.