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Home › Baby Names Directory › Merina

Merina

♀ Girl

Pronounced muh-REE-nuh /məˈɹi.nə/Medium

Meaning: Most often a spelling of Marina, from Latin marinus, 'of the sea'. Separately, Merina is the name of a people of the central highlands of Madagascar and of their dialect — an ethnonym, which we note honestly rather than treat as an etymology. Routes uncertain.Low

In 30 seconds: Merina reads mostly as a spelling of Marina, 'of the sea' — and it is also the name of a people of Madagascar, which we note. Routes uncertain (said 'muh-REE-nuh').
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Origin LowLatin, Malagasy
MeaningMost often a spelling of Marina, from Latin marinus, 'of the sea'. Separately, Merina is the name of a people of the central highlands of Madagascar and of their dialect — an ethnonym, which we note honestly rather than treat as an etymology. Routes uncertain.
U.S. rank (2024)#14627 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1998
Total births (all-time)≈ 338

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199819652024

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

Merina reads chiefly as a spelling of Marina, from Latin marinus, 'of the sea', a name long used across Europe. Quite separately, Merina is the name of a people of the central highlands of Madagascar and of the dialect that underlies standard Malagasy — a real ethnonym, which we state plainly rather than convert into a personal-name meaning. The route intended in any given family is uncertain, which we note (said 'muh-REE-nuh').

It appears only rarely in the U.S. Rare, sea-adjacent, and crossover.

Did you know? Merina is the name of a people of the central highlands of Madagascar, and of their dialect — so alongside the Marina 'of the sea' route, the word carries a real cultural identity, which we note honestly rather than turn into an etymology (said 'muh-REE-nuh').
Overall data confidence 38%
References — Merina — Marina variant; Merina people of Madagascar (ethnonym, noted honestly)

Variations

MarinaMerenaMirena

Nicknames

MeriRinaNina

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Merina…

Marina— the standard name it spells
Serena— a near-rhyme with the same flow
Maren— a like sea-rooted Mar- name
Marena— a fellow Latin choice
Mirana— echoes that soft -na sound

Explore names like Merina

By themeuncertainheritageseacrossover
By meaningSea / WaterTruth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Merina mean?

Merina is usually a spelling of Marina, from Latin marinus, 'of the sea'. It is also the name of a people of Madagascar, which we note honestly; routes are uncertain.

How do you pronounce Merina?

It's said muh-REE-nuh /məˈɹi.nə/ — three syllables, stress on the middle one.

Is Merina a boy or girl name?

Merina is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Merina?

Merina is rare in the U.S.; Marina is far more familiar.

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