Namorita was born over 30 years ago to Namora, half-human cousin of Atlantis' Prince Namor. Unknown to her husband Talan, Namora became pregnant via genetic manipulation by Atlantean scientist Vyrra, who implanted her with her own clone (infused with genes from Atlantis's greatest warriors). Talan died when Namorita was three, and she and Namora relocated to Lemuria. Eventually Namora was poisoned by her rival, Llyra, when Namorita was still a pre-adolescent. Llyra assumed the throne of Lemuria soon after, and Namorita remained in her care, suspecting her of Namora's supposed death but unable to prove it. When Namor reunited with the cousin he had not seen since her infancy, he entrusted her welfare to his longtime surface friend, Betty Prentiss. Under Prentiss' guidance, Namorita attended high school and college. Namorita eventually considered Betty to be her second mother and took her last name when she died. Annie Christopher was her college roommate. For a time they cared for Wundarr when he had childlike intelligence, and briefly joined his spiritual movement, the Water Children.