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Marcelina — Name Day, Meaning & Origin

Female Polish given name · rank 18 among female names (2024)

A classic Polish female name of Roman lineage linked to Mars.

Pronunciation

/ˌmar.t͡sɛ.ˈli.na/ · mar-tseh-LEE-nah

Meaning

Marcelina is the feminine form of Marcelin, derived from the Roman Marcellinus. It was originally a name linked to Mars, the god of war, so it carries associations of valour, energy and a martial spirit.

Origin & history

The name has Old Roman roots and stems from the Marcellus family. It reached Poland through Christianity, alongside the cult of early Christian saints who bore the name. In Polish tradition it has settled as a name of classical, somewhat dignified sound.

Etymology

Marcellinus is a diminutive of Marcellus, which in turn comes from Marcus — a name traced back to Mars, the Roman god of war. The whole family of names is thus tied to a martial element.

Declension (Polish cases)

NominativeMarcelina
GenitiveMarceliny
DativeMarcelinie
AccusativeMarcelinę
InstrumentalMarceliną
LocativeMarcelinie
VocativeMarcelino

Name day (imieniny)

In Poland, Marcelina celebrates its name day on 9 January, 31 January, 26 April, 17 July.

Diminutives

Marcelka, Marcysia, Marcelinka, Celina, Lina.

Forms in other languages

Equivalents in other languages include Marcellina (Italian, Latin), Marceline and Marcelline (French), as well as Selina and Celine, related through a shared root.

Notable people named Marcelina

Święta Marcelina — Early Christian virgin, sister of Saint Ambrose of Milan.
Marcelina Darowska — Polish nun and educator, beatified, co-founder of the Immaculate Conception sisters.
Marcelina Zawadzka — Polish model and TV presenter, Miss Polonia 2011.

Popularity

Marcelina is a name of steady, moderate popularity in Poland, given regularly though less often than the trendiest names of recent years.

Similar names

Maja Zofia Zuzanna Laura Hanna Julia Oliwia Pola