International Variations of Mary

  1. Maliyah
    • Origin:

      Hawaiian variation of Mary
    • Meaning:

      "bitter"
    • Description:

      This version of Malia (as in Obama) peaked at Number 296 in 2009. Though Maliyah has lost ground since then, it's surprisingly enduring for a newly-fashion name whose pop culture connection was more than a decade ago.
  2. Mariska
    • Origin:

      Hungarian diminutive of Maria
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Actress Hargitay made us notice this one, it makes a robust, energetic Slavic impression.
  3. Maira
    • Mairi
      • Origin:

        Scottish variation of Mary
      • Meaning:

        "bitter"
      • Description:

        Why does Mairi (rhymes with Harry) seem so much cooler than Mary? This Irish form of Mary was not used before the seventeenth century, as it was considered too sacred. The vocative case of the name, Mhairi (pronounced VAH-ree), is also used as a given name in Scotland.
    • Isamar
      • Origin:

        Spanish, Conflation of Isabella and Maria
      • Description:

        This is one elaboration of the ubiquitous Isobel that we think should be chosen more often and would work well in many languages.
    • Marika
      • Origin:

        Dutch variation of Mary
      • Description:

        Foreign variations of Mary are definitely the way to go; this one has a nice Dutch-girl feel. It also works as a cultural crossover name, e.g. between European languages and Japanese.
    • Marella
      • Origin:

        Italian variation of Marilla, Latin
      • Meaning:

        "bright shining sea"
      • Description:

        Marella is an Italian name that feels at once unique and familiar, which may either be the best or worst of both worlds, depending on your preference.
    • Marya
      • Origin:

        Arabic
      • Meaning:

        "purity, bright whiteness"
      • Description:

        The final a adds a lot of style.
    • Mele
      • Origin:

        Hawaiian, Tongan, and Samoan
      • Meaning:

        "song"
      • Description:

        Some sources say Mele is a South Sea Islander form of Mary, but it's also a name in its own right meaning song.
    • Mariya
      • Origin:

        Hebrew or Egyptian
      • Meaning:

        "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
      • Description:

        Russian, Ukrainian, and Bulgarian form of the classic Maria sure to cause a lifetime of spelling questions and pronunciation mistakes.
    • Marinka
      • Maryse
        • Origin:

          French diminutive of Marie
        • Meaning:

          "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
        • Description:

          Variant of Marise
      • Marita
        • Origin:

          German and Spanish diminutive of Maria
        • Meaning:

          "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
        • Description:

          Derived from Maria, the meaning of which is uncertain. Theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).
      • Maija
        • Origin:

          Finnish and Latvian variation of Maria
        • Description:

          A lovely and typical name on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Bothnia that no one in the English-speaking world will know how to pronounce. Maia sounds (virtually) the same and is far more familiar outside Finland and Latvia.
      • Maricela
        • Origin:

          Spanish, combination of Maria and Celia
        • Meaning:

          "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + heaven"
        • Description:

          A pretty and little-known Spanish smoosh name, combining Maria with Celia.
      • Moire
        • Mariette
          • Origin:

            French diminutive of Marie
          • Meaning:

            "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
          • Description:

            A less-popular alternative to Juliette, perhaps – although it feels rather more dated.
        • Mariesa
          • Origin:

            English elaboration of Maria
          • Meaning:

            "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
          • Description:

            A pretty spin on Maria or Marissa.
        • Marica
          • Origin:

            Croatian and Hungarian form of Maria
          • Meaning:

            "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
          • Description:

            A striking form of international favourite Maria, the meaning of which is uncertain. Theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).
        • Mariela
          • Origin:

            Spanish diminutive of Maria
          • Meaning:

            "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
          • Description:

            Variant of Mariella