Marina
mer-EE-nuh
Marina is a Latin name derived from marinus, meaning “of the sea” or “marine.” The root mare is the Latin word for sea, giving the name its clear nautical meaning. It was used in both the Christian saint calendar and classical literature.
Saint Marina (also known as Saint Margaret of Antioch) was a 4th-century martyr whose legend spread widely through the Byzantine and Western Christian churches.
The name was popular in medieval Europe and remains common across Romance and Slavic languages.
What the name Marina means
Marina peaked in the US at No. 218 in 1994 with 1,307 births. In 2024 it ranks No. 640 with 461 births, well below its 1990s high.
Singer Marina Diamandis, known as Marina (formerly Marina and the Diamonds), born 1985 in Wales, brought the name considerable pop-culture visibility in the 2010s. The name is also used in Russian culture where it has been a classic for generations.
Three syllables—mah-REE-nuh—flow with a Mediterranean ease. The sea meaning and the soft ending give it both natural freshness and a timeless quality that works across naming traditions.
Parents drawn to Marina appreciate its clear nature meaning, its cross-cultural recognisability across Romance and Slavic languages, and its elegant, unhurried sound.
Related names include Mara (Hebrew “bitterness”, different root), Mariana (compound with Ana), Coral, Oceane (French “ocean”), and the related Latin mare-root names María del Mar and Stella Maris.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Marina
Marina - similar names
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