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Home › Baby Names Directory › Macrina

Macrina

♀ Girl

Pronounced muh-KREE-nuh /məˈkriː.nə/Medium

Meaning: Macrina is the feminine of the Roman family name Macrinus, itself from macer, 'lean, thin'. It is carried above all by Saint Macrina the Younger, a fourth-century teacher and monastic in Cappadocia whose thought shaped her brothers, Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa.Medium

In 30 seconds: A saint's name: Macrina was a fourth-century Christian teacher whose thought shaped her famous brothers (said 'muh-KREE-nuh').
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Origin MediumLatin, Greek
MeaningMacrina is the feminine of the Roman family name Macrinus, itself from macer, 'lean, thin'. It is carried above all by Saint Macrina the Younger, a fourth-century teacher and monastic in Cappadocia whose thought shaped her brothers, Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa.
U.S. rank (2024)#16694 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2023
Total births (all-time)≈ 170

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202319592024

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

Macrina is the feminine of the Roman family name Macrinus, from Latin macer, 'lean'. Its lasting fame belongs to Saint Macrina the Younger of Cappadocia, an early Christian ascetic and teacher whose learning shaped Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa; Gregory's dialogue On the Soul and the Resurrection gives her the leading voice. A name of real intellectual weight (said 'muh-KREE-nuh').

In the U.S. it appears only very rarely for girls. Latin-rooted, saintly, and scholarly.

Did you know? Saint Macrina the Younger taught and argued theology with her brothers Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa — Gregory wrote a whole dialogue placing her at its center, as the teacher.
Overall data confidence 60%
References — Macrina — Feminine of Roman Macrinus (Latin macer); Saint Macrina the Younger of Cappadocia

Variations

MakrinaMacrineMacrinia

Nicknames

MacRinaCree

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Macrina…

Marina— the closest rhyme in sound
Katharina— a like formal Latinate name
Perpetua— another early Christian woman's name
Serafina— a similar saintly, flowing pick

Explore names like Macrina

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Macrina mean?

Macrina is the feminine of the Roman name Macrinus, from Latin macer, 'lean'. It is best known from Saint Macrina the Younger, an early Christian teacher.

How do you pronounce Macrina?

It's said muh-KREE-nuh /məˈkriː.nə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Macrina a boy or girl name?

Macrina is a girl's name; Macrinus is the masculine Roman form.

How popular is Macrina?

Macrina is very rare for girls in the U.S.

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