Marina

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

What do you think of the name Marina? It shot to the top of my list recently, but a few people have told me that they predominantly associate it with the noun, a dock for boats. So, what I'd like to know is, first, can you escape this association when you hear the name Marina, and second, if you can't, is this a negative association?

Also, what do you think of the combination Marina Isabella? Is it too much of a mouthful?

Comments

[lissalynn.livejournal.com]

I think Marina is very pretty, and allows for a few nickname possibilities too. I like Marina Isabella.

All I think of is the singer, Marina and the Diamonds. =)

[schexyschteve.livejournal.com]

I do think of a boat dock, but it's not necessarily bad. It's not like you're naming a child "Crackden" or something with a truly terrible meaning.

It's a little much, but I like it.

[ma-ee-uh.livejournal.com]

When I was a kid and watched Days of Our Lives, there were two characters named Marina and Isabella ... they were sisters. This was back in the late '80s, and is totally irrelevant now, but it's what this post made me think of. :)

My name is Marian, so it's hard for me to type Marina without, uh, typing my own name.

It's a nice name, though. I like the name Marin, actually (emphasis on the 1st syllable).

[babyxdoll.livejournal.com]

I do think of the boat dock when I hear it, but I think the association can be easily escaped. :)

The combination you picked out is cute. <3

[piperwest12.livejournal.com]

As I read this I am watching toddlers and tiaras and there is a psycho stage mom named Marina, so no I no longer think of boats, just psycho stage moms! Sorry!

[elephantus45.livejournal.com]

Yeah I think of birth control when I see that name Marina, Mirena... I Ma-rin-a or Mar-in-a?

[rorylareina.livejournal.com]

I quite like it. I wouldn't mind the boat association. To my ear, it has more naminess than wordiness.

[lovelymae.livejournal.com]

My great aunt's name was Marina. We called her Mimi. I like it, but I think it is a bit of a mouthful when combined with Isabella.

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

Marina & the Diamonds is where I first heard the name :). She's who I think of as well, but apparently the boat marina issue is pretty big for a few people I know.

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, I didn't even think of the Days connection! I was a baby during that storyline, but I watched a lot of the RoJohn/Isabella storyline on YouTube and loved them. :)

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I didn't even think of the BC connection. With my accent, though, I think that ma-REE-na sounds different enough from mir-AY-na.

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

To my ear, it has more naminess than wordiness.

This sentence is golden, just so you know. :P

[silvermidnight.livejournal.com]

I like Marina. I do get the boat association but it doesn't bother me. I also get the character from The Fresh Beats Band kids TV show but that's regional.

I think Marina Isabella is fine. It's a little syllableful but it's not like you're going to be saying it frequently anyways.

[winterjameson.livejournal.com]

I think of the actress Marina Sirtis, Deanna Troi from ST:TNG, when I hear the name. The dock association will be quickly forgotten when people look at a little girl, I think. And Marina Isabella is fine, although I personally would lean more toward Marina Isabelle/Isabel. Personal preference, that's all.

[daydream11.livejournal.com]

I think of my suitemate, who is a very assertive Hufflepuff majoring in Japanese. I think it's a very pretty name. I think of water before I think of docks, and most people probably wouldn't make the connection in the first place.

Marina Isabella runs together too much. I'm a fan of consonants after vowels; it's hard to distinguish between 'na' and 'Is.'

[sictransitsuzy.livejournal.com]

No negative associations. I think of a dock marina and I also think of the Marine Corps, as my boyfriend is a U.S. Marine. I think it's a beautiful name :)

[smittenlotus.livejournal.com]

I like the name personally. It's been used for a few fictional characters I have fond memories of, and in general it's a pretty name. Marina Isabella sounds a little too flowery for me but I think the first name itself is fine.

[ladydreamfire.livejournal.com]

I read through all the comments before commenting to see if anybody else made the same connection to The Fresh Beat Band. The drummer on that show is named Marina. :D I can't believe I'm the only one. :|

In any case, regardless of all the possible connections, I think it's a lovely name. I too think Marina Isabella is pretty. I think Rina would make a cute nickname too! :)

[ladydreamfire.livejournal.com]

Marin is cute! Wasn't that the name of William Wallace's wife in Braveheart? It's the only other time I've heard that name come up is all! :) I love it!

[ladydreamfire.livejournal.com]

I agree, they are pronounced entirely different. I think you're safe from this particular association for the most part. The boat dock is probably your biggest adversary, and it's not even a negative association.

[ladydreamfire.livejournal.com]

Wait! I thought I was the only one who got the Fresh Beat Band association, but I was wrong! Lol. I happen to like that show, especially compared to others. But they replaced the original Marina, which angered me. I hate TV show switches :)

[queen-islanzadi.livejournal.com]

While I do think of the boat association, I don't think it 'ruins' the name or makes it un-usable. I like it :)

[cremepuff.livejournal.com]

I like Marina; I think it's very pretty! I never associate it with its use as a noun. Marina Isabella is beautiful, but it would be best with a short last name.

[rabbit-glasses.livejournal.com]

I think it's a pretty name. I do associate it with the noun, but I don't think that's a bad thing.

[fleckerbug.livejournal.com]

No.

Yes.

It's okay. If you're going for that kind of name.

[alyssa22.livejournal.com]

I love Marina. It's pretty, feminine, not bizarre, but not common enough for everyone to have it.

I think Marina Rose sounds nice. Or Marina May. I tend to like one syllable names with longer first names.

[box-of-rocks.livejournal.com]

I'd prefer Marina Isobel/Isabelle - it makes it less sing-songy. It does make me think nautical, but not in a bad way.

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

I came here to mention the Star Trek actress as well. When it's in the context of names, boats don't even enter my mind, just the counselor.

[hermione-vader.livejournal.com]

Marina and Isabella are very pretty, but I'm not sure if I'd choose two names that end in "a". Have you considered Marina Isabel(le)?

[02895.livejournal.com]

I know a Marina, we call her Nina. I personally love it, very pretty and I don't think of a boat when i hear it.

[snoglobel.livejournal.com]

The secretary here is Marina. She's very fun. I do think of a boat marina if I pause for a while, but my first reaction is definitely that its a name.

[shirogirl.livejournal.com]

I actually have a friend named Marina Isabella!

[starcrossed.livejournal.com]

I think of Marina and the Diamonds, but yeah, I think it's pretty but it is a boat dock too.

I don't like the double 'a' sound of Marina Isabella. I prefer Marina Belle :)

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

I have, because two names ending in -a makes me a bit nervous as well, but whenever I put Marina Isabel together with various surnames it just sounds wrong. I feel like Isabella just flows into the surname better than Isabel, if that makes sense?

[beanxsprout.livejournal.com]

I like your example.

[arrien.livejournal.com]

I like it as a name. It makes me think of the girl on Fresh Beat Band, but that's not a deal breaker.

[mirhanda.livejournal.com]

I love Marina, LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I considered it back in my reproducing days (over 21 years ago now! Wow, time flies). I wound up deciding against it because, in English (which is my primary language) it means "a place you keep your boat" and I thought that might cause problems. It's so pretty though! I really like it paired with Isabella (another name on my list from years ago!) but do remember that Isabella has shot up in popularity in recent years. (It was almost unheard of back when I was pregnant.)

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I definitely always think of boats. I really don't know if I don't like the name, or if I just don't like the association. I only think of it as the noun, never a name.

[octobre09.livejournal.com]

Love Marina! I think of the Little Mermaid (it was the original little mermaid's name before Disney took over the story.) I think of a French Canadian actress and an ex co-worker of mine also. All positive associations.

[hermione-vader.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it does. I guess Isabella would work better with extra syllables after it.

Also, I went to middle school and high school with a girl named Marina, and no one ever compared her to a boat dock.

[pixie-bones.livejournal.com]

I've lived in both San Diego and Hawai'i (places by the water), so boats is what comes to mind for me first... It's not my style, anyway.
I'm not sure I like the double "a" endings of Marina Isabella, but it's not horrible. :)