トーキルド・ヤコブセンは、シュメール語のニンギジッタという名前を「良い木の主」と説明することができると提唱した。この訳は、今日でもアッシリア学者達に受け入れられている<ref>Wiggermann, 1998, p368</ref><ref>Vacín, 2011, p253</ref>。dNi-gi-si-da, dNin-nigi-si-da, dNin-ki-zi-da, dNin-gi-iz-zi-da など、さまざまな音節の表記が知られている<ref>Wiggermann, 1998, p368</ref>。
「ニン(NIN)」は文脈によっては「女性」と訳されるが、シュメール語では文法的に中立であり、男性(ニンギジッタ、ニナズ、ニヌルタなど)と女性(ニンリル、ニンカシなど)の多くの神々の名前に見出すことができる<ref>Asher-Greve, Westenholz, 2013, pp6-7</ref>。ニンギジッタはギシバンダ(Gishbanda、小さな木)とも呼ばれる<ref>Wiggermann, 1998, p369</ref>。
[[Thorkild Jacobsen]] proposed that the [[Sumerian language|Sumerian]] name ''Ningishzida'' can be explained as "lord of the good tree." This translation is still accepted by other Assyriologists today. Various syllabic spellings are known, including ''<sup>[[dingir|d]]</sup>Ni-gi-si-da'', ''<sup>d</sup>Nin-nigi-si-da'', ''<sup>d</sup>Nin-ki-zi-da'' and ''<sup>d</sup>Nin-gi-iz-zi-da''. While "[[NIN (cuneiform)|nin]]" can be translated as "lady" in some contexts, it was grammatically neutral in Sumerian and can be found in the names of many deities, both male (Ningishzida, [[Ninazu]], [[Ninurta]], etc.) and female ([[Ninlil]], [[Ninkasi]] etc.). Ningishzida could also be called Gishbanda ("little tree").{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=369}} == Functions機能 ==
Ningishzida's titles connect him to plants and agriculture.{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=369}} He was frequently mentioned in connection with grass, which he was believed to provide for domestic animals.{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|pp=369-370}} The death of vegetation was associated with his annual travel to the underworld.{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=370}} The "tree" in his name might be [[Vitis|vine]] according to some Assyriologists, including [[Wilfred G. Lambert]], and an association between him and alcoholic beverages (specifically [[wine]]) is well attested, for example one text mentions him alongside the beer goddess [[Ninkasi]], while one of his titles was "lord of the innkeepers."{{sfn|Wiggermann|1998|p=370}}