I suppose it depends where you live. I live in a town where the focus point is the marina. It’s where the most popular restaurant and bar is and where everyone hangs out. So here it would be kind of ridiculous to call your kid that. Which is why I voted for the “Where you dock your boat option”. I see the appeal of it though, it sounds pretty, but I could never use it.
What about [name_f]Mariana[/name_f], pronounced [name_f]Mary[/name_f]- [name_f]Anna[/name_f] or [name_f]Mary[/name_f]- [name_f]Ahna[/name_f]. I prefer the later. I think it is cuter than [name_f]Mariana[/name_f] but still is similar.
I lived in a fishing town in [name_f]Alaska[/name_f] where nearly everyone makes their living from the sea. Many, many of their daughters were named [name_f]Marina[/name_f] (and various other sea-oriented names), so actually she might fit right in if you do ever live near a marina.
I grew up on a small island (we had two marinas) and there are about ten marinas within twenty minutes of my childhood home. Despite this, or maybe because of it, I love the name. I think it’s great and I love the meaning. I know a lot of people that make money from fishing or otherwise working at or around marinas and docks, and I can see where it might be odd for someone in that position, who uses the word fairly often, but I love it.
I have a young cousin named [name_f]Marina[/name_f] and behind her parents back everyone in my family asks the grandparents why the parents named their child after a boat yard (in less kind words). Like everyone. They had enough tact not to say it after the child was born.
It is a very strong connection that we got immediately upon hearing the name. If that’s okay with you, then go for it.
I like [name_f]Marina[/name_f]- it has a spunky and playful feel. Probably because of one of my favourite journalists, the witty Guardian restaurant critic [name_f]Marina[/name_f] O’[name_m]Loughlin[/name_m]. In my city we call the marina the harbourfront, so I don’t really think of that. I’ve never met a [name_f]Marina[/name_f] in real life so it seems fresh.
giinkies: can I ask where your young cousin [name_f]Marina[/name_f] and her parents live? (general region?) Thanks!
In Europe I think the whole English association with the boat-docking-place is much less of an issue. [name_m]Even[/name_m] in [name_f]England[/name_f], especially because they had a [name_f]Princess[/name_f] [name_f]Marina[/name_f].
@scgogirl: I don’t like [name_f]Mariana[/name_f], actually (sorry)!! One of the reasons I like [name_f]Marina[/name_f] is that it has long “a” syllables-- “Mah-[name_f]REE[/name_f]-nah.” [name_f]Mariana[/name_f] could, of course, be pronounced with long “a” sounds, but most people in the U.S. would say “[name_f]Mary[/name_f]-anna,” and you’d have to constantly correct them. But beyond that, the name [name_f]Mariana[/name_f] just doesn’t (for me) have the elegance, allure, or lovely meaning that [name_f]Marina[/name_f] does.
It is beautiful but it does sort of remind me of a dock…thats not a bad thing though, I’m sure it was a name before it was a thing. Lol I feel for the kids called [name_f]Summer[/name_f]. [name_f]Marina[/name_f] works, and I knew a girl in high school with this name which suited her beautifully. I like it. Good luck!
I think the ocean reference is beautiful. The downside is the popularity of [name_f]Maria[/name_f] (for me). Spelling it [name_f]Marena[/name_f] would fix that.