Karina is a feminine given name used across many European languages, including Danish, English, German, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. It is an elaborated form of Karin, a Swedish short form of Katherine. The name ultimately derives from the Greek Aikaterine, whose etymology is debated; possible origins include the Greek hekateros meaning “each of the two,” the goddess Hecate, the Greek aikia meaning “torture,” or a Coptic name meaning “my consecration of your name.” Early Christians associated it with the Greek katharos meaning “pure,” leading to the Latin spelling Katharina. History The name spread through the veneration of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, a 4th-century martyr tortured on a spiked wheel. Returning crusaders brought the name to Western Europe, and it became common in England by the 12th century in various spellings, including Katherine and Catherine. Notable historical bearers include Catherine of Siena, Catherine de' Medici, Katherine of Aragon, and Catherine the Great. Geographic distribution In modern times, Russia has the highest number of individuals named Karina, while Belarus has the highest popularity relative to its population. The name also appears as a variant of Carina, which means “dear” or “beloved” in Latin and “pretty” in Italian. In Latvia, the spelling Karīna is used, and a diminutive is Ina. Related Swedish and German variants include Carin and Kaja. Other language forms include Macedonian Katerina, Hungarian Katalin, Basque Kattalin, Ukrainian Karyna, and Belarusian Katsiaryna. Notable bearers Anna Karina (1940–2019), Danish-French actress known for her roles in French New Wave films. Karina, born Elda Neyis Mosquera (born 1963), Colombian guerrilla commander. Karina (Spanish singer) (born 1946), Spanish pop singer and actress. Karina (Venezuelan singer) (born 1968), Venezuelan singer and actress. Karina Adsbøl (born 1976), Danish politician. Karina Alvariza (born 1976), Argentine footballer. Karina Ambartsumova (born 1989), Russian chess player. Key facts Meaning: “pure” (associated with Greek katharos), also “dear” or “pretty” (Latin carus) Origin: Greek root through Saint Catherine of Alexandria; also influenced by Latin carina Type: Given name (feminine) Usage regions: Europe (especially Russia, Belarus, Scandinavia, Germany, Poland, Spain), also Japan (written with various kanji)