 Xiao Ni was born in 444 as the second son of Xiao Daocheng and his wife Liu Zhirong (劉智容), four years younger than his older brother Xiao Ze.Because Xiao Daocheng was a Liu Song general who contributed in military campaigns, Xiao Ni served in a number of low level government posts early in his life, including as a county magistrate and as an administrator in the census bureau.Around 466, when his father was given a greater title for his contributions in Emperor Ming of Liu Song's war for the throne with Liu Zixun, Xiao Ni was given his father's old title of Marquess of Jinshou.