Comments for the name Mara (1)

Mara Jade, wife of Luke Skywalker.

Not famous maybe, but the main character in Daughter of the Empire, etc. Very good books. Oh, and it also was my next door neighbour's daughter when I was 4 or 5.

Mara Wilson is the girl who played Matilda in the movie "Matilda".

This is kind of a story but: When I was little I had this teacher at a place (not school) named Mara, and everyone calls her something different! Ma-ra (as in man), the a part Mahr-a, I never really knew the real way to say it. And about half the ones I know have the first pronunciation, and the second half has the second pronunciation.

"Mara" could be a short form of "Tamara".

Mara has been on the top 1000 list since the 1950's. Its most popular year was the 1990's where it ranked 599.

Mara is a young slave girl living in ancient Egypt during the rule of Hatsheptsut in the book "Mara Daughter of the Nile".

Mara is an ancient Egyptian name meaning "truth of the sun".

I've just learned that "Mara" means "lord, master" in Aramaic, or Hebrew. Can't remember.

Mara also means 'sea' in Gaelic. If I used this name, I would mean it to have this meaning rather than 'bitter'.

No, muir means "sea" in Irish. Mara is the genitive of muir. (I'm feeling picky today.)
The Latin equivalent of Mara is maris. So, Stella Maris ("Star of the Sea", a title of Mary) is Réalta na Mara in Irish. Though Mara isn't really an Irish name, it's a word.
And I agree, "of the sea" is a really pretty meaning, much nicer than "bitter".

I think this name is really beautiful, a lot of my friends don't agree with me. It just seems so strong and beautiful!

In the Redwall books by Brian Jacques (specifically the book Salamandastron), there is a badger named Mara. She is the adoptive daughter of Lord Urthstripe, and the friend of Pikkle the hare. They run away from home together because Mara feels restricted by Urthstripe's rules. She went on many adventures and then became the Badger Mother of Redwall Abbey.

I like this name, if not only because of Mara from Redwall (she's my favorite character in Salamandastron).

Though not particularly famous, Mara is the name of the main character in the book "Exodus" by Julie Bertagna.

It sounds like a nice name, but it's too bad that the meaning is awful.

Song "Mara" by Country Joe and the Fish.

Mara is the Maltese word for woman.

Besides the fact that Mara means "bitter" in Hebrew, it also means "nightmare" in Swedish and "Death" in Sanskrit. Hardly the type of name I'd recommend anyone using, due to all of the negative meanings.

I love this name, since it's mine!

Anyway, on the origin: Mara is the highest ranking goddess in Latvian mythology.

In Scandinavian folk stories a "Mara" is a ghost like creature who causes nightmares.

It's also another name for Marzanna, a goddess of death, the dark, the winter season, and the moon.

Mara is also the Hindu goddess of death.

It's a REALLY dark name, but I like that it has such history.

In Slavic countries "Mara" is name of evil spirits, ugly girls that make people see nightMARES.

Is related to the word "myrrh" a strong-smelling and bitter perfume used on the deceased as part of the embalming process.

Is also related to the name "Mary", which also means "bitter".

Mara Valentine is the main character in the book Vegan Virgin Valentine by Carolyn Mackler.

Being a Star Wars fan, I think this name sounds much more beautiful than its more common (and I daresay "vulgar") variant. Amazing how a one-letter difference does that.

My name is Mara, and I've always pronounced it Mah-ra. My parents went to Argentina and met several girls named Mara.

I also came to love this name through its association with the Star Wars character Mara Jade. Because of her, the name makes me picture a really strong woman who isn't afraid to take matters into her own hands. The meaning doesn't really bother me because names like Mary, Maria, & Miriam have the same or similar meanings and that doesn't stop people from using them. Also, because it means "of the sea" in Gaelic, you could always tell your child that is the meaning of her name.

A common nickname for Martti in Finland.