Entry № 1100 · Greek, Latin origin

Macrina Macrina — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ mah-KREE-nah /

Gender

Girl

Origin

Greek, Latin

Meaning

"Long-lived (sister of Basil and Gregory)"

Syllables

Rank · US 2025

№ 0

First recorded

Ancient (Greek)

The meaning

A name that means "long-lived (sister of basil and gregory)".

Macrina (Μακρίνα) is from the Greek makros (long, great). **Saint Macrina the Younger (c. 330-379)** was the Cappadocian Christian philosopher and elder **sister of Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa** — the family that shaped Greek-Orthodox theology. Gregory wrote her biography Life of Macrina as one of the great Christian philosophical dialogues.

**Called "the teacher" (didaskalos) by her brothers.**

Long-lived. The teacher of Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa.

In its original form

The name in its native script.

Μακρίνα

Transliteration: Makrína
Pronunciation: / məˈkriː.nə /
Root: —
Grammatical form: —

Popularity

Where Macrina stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 0 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 0 in 0

Babies named Macrina · last year

87 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Macrinas before her.

Real people

Saint Macrina the Younger

Cappadocian Christian philosopher.

c. 330 – 379

In fiction

Macrina

Subject of Gregory of Nyssa's Life.

Names connected to Macrina.

Numerology

The number behind Macrina.

The Pioneer

Macrina reduces to one — the number of Cappadocian teacher.

Parents on Macrina

Why families chose this name.

"Cappadocian teacher. Seven letters. Macrina."

Eleni · Mother of one · Caesarea