Mara
Meaning of Mara
The name Mara is a beautiful and timeless choice for a baby girl, with rich historical and cultural significance. Pronounced as MAH-rah (/maˈra/), it has roots in Hebrew, Italian, German, and Slovene languages. In Hebrew, Mara means "bitter," a reference found in the Bible where Naomi adopts the name Mara to express her grief. Despite this somber origin, the name has evolved to carry various positive connotations across different cultures. For instance, in Italian and Spanish contexts, it is often associated with the sea (mar) or can be seen as a short form of names like Tamara or Amara. The name's popularity in the United States has seen fluctuations over the decades but remains a beloved choice for many parents. With its simple elegance and deep-rooted heritage, Mara continues to be a distinctive and meaningful option for naming a child.
Pronunciation
Hebrew,Italian,German,Slovene
- Pronunced as MAH-rah (/maˈra/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Mara
| Mara Elizabeth Wilson is a former child actress known for her roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, Matilda, and A Simple Wish, who later took a break from acting to focus on writing before returning to the industry in 2012. |
| Mara Brock Akil is an accomplished American screenwriter and television producer known for creating popular TV series like Girlfriends, The Game, Being Mary Jane, Black Lightning, and Love Is. |
| Mara Rosalind Yamauchi is a British long-distance track and road running athlete with the third fastest time by a British woman over the marathon. |
| Mara Katherine Abbott is a retired US professional women's bicycle racer who made history by winning the Giro d'Italia Femminile in 2010, becoming the first US cyclist to achieve this feat. |
| Mara Woodworth Elliott is the first woman and first Latina to serve as San Diego City Attorney in California. |
| Mara Devereux is an American artist known for her innovative and thought-provoking work. |
| Mara Santangelo is a retired Italian tennis player and Grand Slam champion in doubles. |
| Mara the Lioness (1965–1974) was an animal actor known for her role as Elsa in the 1966 movie Born Free, based on the true story of a lioness raised by George and Joy Adamson. |
| Marie-Josephine Mara Thompson is a prominent Barbadian politician and educator who succeeded her late husband as the representative for the Saint John constituency. |
| Sara Mattei, also known as Mara Sattei, is a well-known Italian singer-songwriter. |
| Mara Davi is an American actress, singer, and dancer known for her Broadway debut as Maggie Winslow in the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line. |
| Mara Bergman is an American children's author, poet, and editor known for her award-winning picture books and poetry collections, with her works being translated into multiple languages. |
| Mara Scherzinger is a German actress known for her work in commercials, TV films, TV series, and cinema movies. |
| Mara Schiavocampo, also known as Mara S. Campo, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, podcast host, and Executive Producer, known for her work on TV One's "Fatal Attraction: Last Words" and Revolt TV's special reports and investigations, as well as her commentary on cable news focusing on race and culture. |
| Mara Liasson is an American journalist and political pundit known for her work as the national political correspondent for NPR and as a contributor at Fox News Channel. |
