Why is the movie "NINE" named nine?

Nine is based on the film 8�, which stands for the number of movies that Federico Fellini had directed to that point. He had previously directed six full-length feature films: (1) Lo sceicco bianco (1952), (2) I vitelloni (1953), (3) La strada (1954), (4) Il bidone (1955, ) (5) Le notti di Cabiria (1957), and (6) La dolce vita (1960). He had collaborated with Alberto Lattuada to film Luci del variet� (1950) and directed two short segments: (1) "Un Agenzia Matrimoniale" from L'amore in citt� (1953) and (2) "Le Tentazioni del Dottor Antonio" from Boccaccio '70 (1962). These six full-length films, the three latter projects that he counted for � points each, plus this film added to 8�. Maury Yeston has stated that by adding music to the story, it was like adding an extra � to the story. The song "Nine" (excised from the film adaptation) adds further symbolism to the number and its relation to Guido and the story.