Nana is the name of the Darling family’s dog in Peter Pan.
Nana is a Newfoundland dog who acts as the children’s nursemaid in the opening London scenes. She watches over Wendy, John, and Michael in the nursery and tries to keep them safe. This unusual household role is one of the story’s early signs that the Darling children live in a world where imagination and ordinary family life overlap.
In many productions, Nana is played by a performer in a dog costume or represented through a puppet, while animated adaptations depict her as a large, gentle dog. Disney’s 1953 film uses Nana for visual comedy and for the emotional transition between the Darling home and the adventure in Neverland.
Nana is sometimes confused with other famous fictional dogs, including Lady from Lady and the Tramp or Toto from The Wizard of Oz. She is not a magical animal and does not travel to Neverland with the children. Her main role is as the responsible guardian of the nursery, especially before Peter Pan arrives.