Meaning & History
Petrina is a given name of Latin origin, functioning as a diminutive of Petra. The name Petrina thus ultimately stems from the same root as Peter, via the form Petra.
Etymology and Meaning
The name Peter derives from the Greek Πέτρος (Petros), meaning "stone". This, in turn, is a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name given by Jesus to the apostle Simon (see Matthew 16:18 and John 1:42). Petra is the feminine form of Peter, and Petrina is an extension, likely formed with a Latin diminutive suffix.
Notable Bearers
Several women bear the name Petrina, hailing from diverse fields and countries. Notable individuals include Petrina Fung (born 1954), a Malaysian-born Chinese actress active in Hong Kong cinema; Petrina Haingura (born 1959), a Namibian politician; Petrina Holdsworth (born 1952), a British barrister and politician; and Petrina Price (born 1984), an Australian high jumper. While these represent recent figures, historically the name has appeared in various English-speaking contexts.
Cultural Distribution and Variants
Petrina is predominantly used in the English-speaking world and appears in given name registers across the United Kingdom, Australia, and other Anglophone countries. It belongs to a large family of European derivatives of Peter and Petra. Several similar forms exist globally: Petrana (Bulgarian), Petruška (Czech), and Petroula (Greek), to name a few. The masculine form Peter is the ultimate root across many cultures.
Key Facts
- Meaning: "little stone" (diminutive of Petra, from Greek petros = stone)
- Origin: Latin/English, from Hebrew through Greek and Aramaic
- Type: Feminine given name
- Usage: Predominantly English
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Petrina (given name)