Marcella

Marcella represents the feminine variant of Marcellus, a diminutive of the Latin name Marcus. The meaning of the name Marcella is "dedicated to Mars," referring to the Roman god of war.

What does the name Marcella mean?

The name form Marcella is derived from Marcellus, a diminutive of the Latin Marcus. The name means "dedicated to Mars" and has historical evidence dating back to antiquity. Its popularity increased in the Middle Ages, especially due to the veneration of Saint Marcella of Rome, whose feast day is celebrated on January 31. Today, Marcella is especially popular in Italy, but it also holds significance in Germany as the female equivalent of Marcel. There are various variants such as Marcela, Marcelina, Marceline, Marcelle, Marcellina, Marcelline, and Marzella. Short forms include Celin, Celina, Celine, Cella, and Cellina.

Where does the name Marcella come from?

The origin of the name Marcella lies in the Latin form Marcellus, which in turn derives from the name Marcus. Marcus comes from the Latin term "mart-kos," meaning "dedicated to Mars." This word formation is a combination of the Latin word for the Roman god of war, Mars. The name is particularly common in Italian and Roman-speaking regions.

How do you pronounce Marcella?

The pronunciation of Marcella is three syllables and has a gentle structure. In German, the name is usually pronounced as "Mar-cel-la" [maʁˈtsɛla]. It begins with an open A sound that conveys a warm aura. The consonant combination in the middle provides a distinct segmentation, and the ending "-la" sounds round and friendly. Marcella conveys an elegant and powerful impression – feminine, present, and sonically clear.

When is the name day of Marcella?

The name day for Marcella is celebrated on January 31 in honor of Saint Marcella of Rome.

Popularity

In Germany, Marcella is among the common first names. Currently, it ranks 4,045th on the list of the most popular female baby names. The name achieved its best ranking in 1930 at 251st place. In the last ten years, Marcella has been given as a first name about 110 times, placing it 2,385th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it holds the 1,855th position.

Nicknames & pet names

Bella / Cella / Celli / Ella / Elli / Malla / Marce / Marcellinchen / Marcello / Marci / Marcie / Marcy / Marshie / Matschi / Schelly

Similar first names

Famous people

• Saint Marcella (killed by the Goths in 410 during the conquest of Rome)
• Marcella Albani (1899–1959), Italian silent film actress
• Marcella Bella (singer from Italy)
• Marcella Berger (German writer)
• Marcella Boveri (biologist from Germany)
• Marcella Burke (writer from the USA)
• Marcella Comes Winslow (painter from America)
• Marcella Craft (American opera singer)
• Marcella Deen (Dutch handball player)
• Marcella Detroit (singer of the duo 'Shakespears Sister' with Siobhan Fahey)
• Marcella Lotti Della Santa (singer from Italy)
• Marcella Lowery (actress from the USA)
• Marcella Mancini (Italian long-distance runner)
• Marcella Mariani (Italian actress)
• Marcella McCrae (singer)
• Marcella Mesker (Dutch tennis player)
• Marcella Michelangeli (Italian actress)
• Marcella Pobbe (Italian singer)
• Marcella Polain (Australian poet)
• Marcella Puppini (Italian singer)