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Karina

♀ Girl

Pronounced kah-REE-nah /kɑːˈriː.nə/High

Meaning: Scandinavian and Eastern European form of Karen or Carina; from the Greek Katharine (pure) through the Scandinavian Karen, or from the Latin carus (dear, beloved) through Carina; widely used across Northern and Eastern Europe and Latin AmericaHigh

In 30 seconds: Karina is a graceful, melodic name used across Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America that carries the dual heritage of 'pure' (from Katherine) and 'beloved' (from the Latin carus). Warm, international, and thoroughly feminine.

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Origin HighScandinavian, Latin, Greek

MeaningScandinavian and Eastern European form of Karen or Carina; from the Greek Katharine (pure) through the Scandinavian Karen, or from the Latin carus (dear, beloved) through Carina; widely used across Northern and Eastern Europe and Latin America

U.S. rank (2025)#750 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births363 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1995

Total births (all-time)≈ 61,460

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Karina is used across Northern Europe (Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Russia) as a feminine name deriving from Karen/Katherine (Greek 'pure') and in Southern Europe and Latin America as a variant of Carina, from Latin carus (dear). Both meanings contribute to the name's appeal.

In the United States, Karina has been used particularly in Hispanic communities and among families with Scandinavian or Eastern European heritage. It has been growing steadily as a melodic, multicultural name that is easy to pronounce in English while feeling international.

Did you know? Karina is one of those names that appears independently in multiple naming traditions — Scandinavian (as a Karen form), Polish and Czech (as a Slavic form), and Latin American (as a Carina variant) — each culture arriving at nearly the same name through different paths, showing how the same beautiful sounds recur across languages.

Overall data confidence 83%

Behind the Name — Karina — etymology and usageU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CarinaKarinKaryna

Nicknames

KariRinaKarina

Famous Bearers

★Karina Smirnoff (1978-)
Ukrainian-American professional dancer on Dancing with the Stars
★Karina Lombard (1969-)
American actress known for The L Word

If you like Karina…

Marina— shares the flowing three-syllable -ina ending and the same warm international feminine sound

Carina— the Latin-origin equivalent of the same sound meaning 'dear, beloved'

Katerina— the fuller form of the Katherine root sharing the 'pure' meaning and Slavic heritage

Malina— shares the warm Slavic -ina ending and the same melodious European feminine character

Explore names like Karina

By themethree-syllable slavic warm scandinavian latin-american multicultural

By meaningLove Purity

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Karina mean?

Karina means 'pure' through its Scandinavian Katherine connection, or 'beloved/dear' through its Latin Carina root. Both meanings are valid.

How do you pronounce Karina?

Karina is pronounced kah-REE-nah /kɑːˈriː.nə/ — three syllables with stress on the second.

What cultures use the name Karina?

Karina is used in Scandinavia, Poland, Russia, and across Latin America, making it one of the more genuinely multicultural feminine names.

Is Karina a popular name?

Karina has been consistently used in the U.S. particularly in Hispanic communities, and has been growing as multicultural names gain wider appreciation.