Marna Girl

Popularity: · Trend: → Stable

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAR-nah //ˈmɑːrnə//

Origin: Hebrew; Irish

Meaning: Hebrew: 'bitterness'; Irish: 'sea' or 'of the sea'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Marna has roots that can be traced back to Hebrew, where it is derived from the word "mara," meaning "bitter." This term appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Exodus, where the waters of Marah were described as bitter. The name has also been linked to the Aramaic word "marnah," which carries a similar meaning.

The transition of the name into English likely occurred through the influence of biblical translations, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries, when the King James Bible was published, bringing many Hebrew names into common usage in English-speaking contexts. Historically, the name Marna has been associated with various cultural and religious narratives.

In the biblical context, the bitterness of Marah serves as a metaphor for trials and tribulations, which may have contributed to the name's enduring presence in religious and literary texts. The name's connection to the concept of bitterness has also led to its symbolic interpretation in various cultures, representing resilience in the face of adversity.

While Marna itself may not have been widely used in historical records, its etymological roots and associations with biblical stories have provided a foundation for its recognition. Culturally, names derived from Hebrew often carry significant weight in Jewish tradition and are sometimes used in Christian contexts as well.

The name Marna, while less common than some of its counterparts, resonates with themes of struggle and perseverance, reflecting the broader human experience. Additionally, diminutive forms or variations of the name may exist in different cultures, but Marna itself stands as a testament to the linguistic and historical journey from ancient texts to contemporary usage.

Famous people named Marna

In this section, you will find notable people named Marna. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Marna who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Marna who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Marna Hauk is a writer best known for her work in the field of children's literature and educational resources.

Marna S. K. is a researcher best known for her contributions to the field of environmental science and sustainability.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Marna, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Marna. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Marna was first seen in the United States in 1913.

Marna has ranked as high as #939 nationally, which occurred in 1947, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, New York, Illinois, and Minnesota.

In the past 5 years the name Marna has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Marna is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Marna was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Marna (1971)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 6
55%
WI 5
45%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Marna.

YearBirths
20015
19975
19925
19895
19866
19845
19839
19827
198110
198010
197914
197817
197715
197627
197529
197433
197336
197242
197149
197066
196974
196861
196749
196653
196550
196446
196338
196239
196136
196045
195944
195851
195750
195650
195550
195472
195351
195268
195170
195067
194955
194848
194777
194653
194546
194438
194343
194258
194135
194046
193941
193846
193744
193645
193539
193440
193333
193224
193136
193039
192928
192846
192728
192627
192524
192418
192331
192233
192124
192017
191911
191812
191710
19168
191510
19136