It is also called El NiÃ o and La NiÃ a. El Nino and La Nina are English words for the Spanish words El NiÃ o and La NiÃ a. In Spanish they mean the `` little boy '' and the `` little girl '' . El NiÃ o is used in Spanish for to describe the infant Jesus Christ . The name La NiÃ a originates from Spanish , meaning `` the girl '' , analogous to El NiÃ o meaning `` the boy '' .