Mara
Meaning of Mara
Mara is a quietly radiant name that slips across languages with ease—pronounced MAH-rah in Hebrew, Italian, German, and Slovene—and carries a portfolio of origins as layered as a well-loved novel. In the Hebrew Bible, Naomi rechristens herself Mara, “bitter,” capturing grief with a single syllable; yet in Aramaic the same letters soften into “lady,” while in Old Irish they evoke the “sea,” and in modern Romance tongues Mara often shortens Maria, lending it a hint of Mediterranean sun. Such semantic chiaroscuro gives the name an intriguing duality: poignant, yet strong; concise, yet storied. United States data underline its steady-as-she-goes appeal—hovering in the 400–600 range for over a century, never a chart-topper yet never out of earshot, like a dependable metronome amid trendier crescendos. Literary references—from George R. R. Martin’s Dornish warrior to the folklore figure who steals sleep—add a whisper of drama, while contemporary parents may also hear an echo of Star Wars’ Mara Jade, proof that brevity can still carry cinematic flair. For a daughter, Mara offers a globally intelligible sound, a passport of meanings, and just enough edge to stand out in a classroom of longer, frillier choices; it is, in short, a name that tastes of salt and story, resilience and restraint.
Pronunciation
Hebrew,Italian,German,Slovene
- Pronunced as MAH-rah (/maˈra/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Mara
| Mara Wilson is an American actress renowned for her childhood roles in films like "Matilda" and "Mrs. Doubtfire," who later pursued writing before returning to acting in web series. |
| Mara Brock Akil is a groundbreaking American television writer and producer who became the youngest African American showrunner and the first to have two series airing simultaneously on broadcast TV. |
| Mara Rosalind Yamauchi is a British long-distance runner with the fifth fastest marathon time among British women, trailing only Paula Radcliffe. |
| Mara Katherine Abbott is an American former bicycle racer who became the first US cyclist to win the Giro d'Italia Femminile in 2010 and retired after the 2016 Olympic Games road race. |
| Mara Woodworth Elliott is an American lawyer and politician who made history as the first woman and Latina to serve as San Diego City Attorney from 2016 to 2024. |
| Mara Devereux is an American artist. |
| Mara Santangelo is an Italian former tennis player who won the 2007 French Open in doubles and secured Italy's first Fed Cup title with a decisive singles victory in 2006. |
| Mara the Lioness was the animal actor who portrayed Elsa in the 1966 film "Born Free," based on the true story of Elsa raised by George and Joy Adamson. |
| Marie-Josephine Mara Thompson is a Saint Lucian-born Barbadian politician who succeeded her late husband David Thompson in a by-election for the Saint John constituency. |
| Mara Sattei, whose real name is Sara Mattei, is an Italian singer-songwriter. |
| Mara Davi is an American actress, singer, and dancer who debuted on Broadway as Maggie Winslow in the 2006 revival of A Chorus Line. |
| American children's author, poet, and editor Mara Bergman moved to England and has earned multiple awards for her literary work. |
| Mara Scherzinger is a German actress known for her work in commercials, television, and film. |
| Mara Schiavocampo is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist who hosts investigative television shows and provides commentary on race and culture. |
| Mara Liasson is an American journalist who serves as NPR's national political correspondent and a contributor to Fox News Channel. |
