Varina is of American origin, derived from the Latin word "varia," meaning various or diverse. It was popularized by Varina Davis, the First Lady of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. However, its use as a given name predates this, with notable examples including Varina Howell, who married Jefferson Davis and became First Lady. Varina is often associated with Southern U.S. history but has been used sparsely throughout other regions. It is not listed among the Social Security Administration's top 1000 names in recent years, contributing to its unique and distinctive character today.
"The name Varina experienced a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past century-plus, with peaks in the late 1890s and mid-1970s (highest being 10 births in 1949) but generally maintaining an average of around five births per year."