Marcellina is of Italian origin and means "of Mars". It was popular among early Christians, likely due to its association with the Roman god Mars who was also regarded as a protector of Rome. The name gained further popularity after Saint Marcellinus (3rd century), an officer in the Roman army who converted to Christianity and became a martyr. Marcellina is composed of the elements "Mars" and "-ellinus", a suffix derived from "Aellus", meaning "of Mars". It is also associated with the Latin word "bellus", meaning beautiful, suggesting an additional interpretation as "beautiful like Mars". In literature, one notable figure bearing this name is Marcellina in Alessandro Manzoni's novel "I Promessi Sposi" ("The Betrothed"). The name Marcellina has a rich historical and cultural background, making it unique and intriguing.
The name Marcellina has had fluctuating popularity over the years, with periods of higher usage mainly occurring between 1969 and 1983, peaking at 20 births in 1976. However, it seems to have declined significantly since then, with most recent years showing only 5 or 6 births annually. The total number of Marcellina births over the given period is 287.