Ninon

Ninon is a French pet form of Nina, which itself is a diminutive of names ending in -nina, such as Giannina or Antonina, ultimately tracing back to Hebrew, Greek, or Latin roots depending on the parent name. The form gained particular charm in French-speaking cultures as an affectionate, melodic variant. Its most celebrated bearer was the seventeenth-century French courtesan and wit Anne de Lenclos, known universally as Ninon de l'Enclos, whose literary salon made the name synonymous with elegance and free-thinking spirit. Related forms include Nina, Jeannine, and Antoinette.