Marvina
A variant of the feminine name Marina, possibly derived from Latin meaning "from the sea".
Name Census estimates that about 458 living Americans carry the first name Marvina. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Marvina today is around 57 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Marvina births was 1951 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Marvina. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
458
~ 1 in 748,372 Americans
Peak year
1951
17 babies that year
Average age
57
years old
2020 SSA rank
#16,662
Tracked since 1919
Popularity
Marvina: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Marvina from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 136 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Marvina by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Marvina during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Marvina
The given name Marvina is a relatively modern name that emerged in the early 20th century. It is believed to be a feminine form of the name Marvin, which itself is derived from the Old French name Mervyn or Mervin. The root of Mervyn can be traced back to the Welsh name Merfyn, which means "mariner" or "sailor."
The earliest recorded use of the name Marvina can be found in the United States census records from the 1920s. It is speculated that the name was created by combining the name Marvin with the popular suffix "-ina" to create a unique and feminine variant. This practice of modifying male names to create feminine versions was quite common during that time period.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Marvina was Marvina Crayton (1902-1993), an American actress and singer who appeared in various films and stage productions during the 1920s and 1930s. She was a pioneer in the entertainment industry and paved the way for future African American performers.
Another notable figure named Marvina was Marvina Milner (1924-2012), an American athlete who competed in the high jump and long jump events during the 1940s and 1950s. She won several national championships and held numerous records in her prime.
In the literary world, Marvina Jennings (1910-1991) was an American author and poet who wrote several collections of poetry and children's books. Her works often explored themes of nature, family, and the human experience.
Marvina White (1921-2008) was a Canadian artist and sculptor known for her abstract works and public installations. Her sculptures can be found in various cities across Canada, and she was recognized with numerous awards for her contributions to the arts.
Marvina Monrose (1934-2018) was a Haitian-American educator and civil rights activist who advocated for equal education opportunities and fought against discrimination. She was a prominent figure in the Haitian community and received several honors for her dedication to social justice.
While the name Marvina may not have a long and storied history, it has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, including entertainment, sports, literature, art, and activism. The name's unique and melodic quality has likely contributed to its enduring appeal over the past century.
People
Marvina + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Marvina as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Marvina: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Marvina?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 458 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Marvina going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 748,372 US residents.
Is Marvina a common name?
We classify Marvina as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 603 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Marvina most popular?
The single biggest year for Marvina was 1951, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Marvina is about 57 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Marvina a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Marvina in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.