Am just wondering which character sounds better? Having trouble deciding which. The names are "Maureen" or "Marina".
Neither. Maureen doesn't do anything for me, and Marina isn't a proper name at all; it's a place to moor yachts and small boats. I would much prefer, Marcy. It's easy on ears and would be a good name for a protagonist.
I think we need more info. Maureen to me conjures up an image of a down to earth woman, probably a mother. Someone homespun, married with several kids and a doting husband. Marina sounds altogether more dashing. She could be part-alien or foreign, or with foreign connections (think Marina Oswald). If your character is a spy, she's Marina as Maureen just doesn't cut it. If however she is a mother of eight in a large catholic family that live in Chicago, Maureen IS her.
Deanna Troi. A place to moor yachts? https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-people-named-marina/reference
Maureen has become more of a parody name in the UK. Maureen O'Hara in the 1940s - grandmothers/gangster's moll 1960s/glamour model/only fools & horses
There are lots of people named Marina. To me, it speaks of a young woman/teenager, very sweet and pretty, but good at getting hands-on. Rosy cheeks, dimples, fair hair, that sort of thing. Maureen conjures up an image of a woman in her forties at least, with dark hair and a round, pleasant sort of face, dimples again, and twinkly dark eyes. (Perhaps Marina's mum!) It's a sturdy, practical sort of name. But of course, all this depends when your book is set. All those women with "granny names" (Maureen, Nancy, Elsie) were teenagers once.
Ultimately, we don't know anything about this character, so we're probably all biased on what we ourselves like better, and what images we conjure up when we hear these particular names. With that said, Marina reminds me of some teenage girl who is probably from a wealthy family, wears a lot of jewels, and is a "daddy's girl" who gets that $800 prom dress and becomes prom queen. Also, I listen to a singer called Marina and the Diamonds. That music comes to mind when I hear that name. Maureen sounds more mellow and soft spoken. Like maybe someone who lives in a cottage with one of those water wheel things. Perhaps she likes to walk barefoot in the creek, and look up at the stars in the night sky. Me, personally, I like Marina better. But, if I was going for that more mellow, down to earth feeling name, I'd choose Maureen.
Is your character adventurous? If so, then Maureen sounds nice. Or if she likes the sea, then Marina. I sometimes look up name meanings in relation to some of my characters' personalities to help me decide on a name.
I feel like I should respond with something about how I'd like to moor my yacht in that Marina, but I'm far too classy.
Thanks for all the responses guys. Have to admit that im leaning more towards Marina for a daughter-like character around 20+plus and Maureen for a mother-style figure
It's also worth noting that Marina is also a proper given name, not just one of those weird 'words that people use to name their kids' kind of things like 'Flower' or 'Mountain'.
I had a character in one of my stories named Marlin, and for an obvious reason, as that is a name that refers to a fish.. I eventually had to drop it. I went with Angelo instead.
I've never liked the name Marcy. It either sounds like a stuck up, British child or a one dimensional wife in a poorly written story.
"Maureen" is heavily identified with people of Irish ancestry, so if that's what your character is, go for it. "Marina" is more generically European, and is a common name in Russia, Nordic countries and, to a lesser extent, Mediterranean countries, notably Italy and Greece. It's a safer bet if you want to keep you character's origins less certain.
I think it's a legitimate Spanish name, no? I believe I knew one girl of Italian descent called Marina at school. Anyway, I like neither name. Maureen is an old lady's name - the only Maureens I ever knew were old. And Marina is... I dunno, plain. Personally, I love the name Mariana. It has much more flare. But anyway between Maureen and Marine, I'd vote Marina. Given the choice, I'd go for Mariana instead though Speaking of which, Ariana sounds even better.