Additional Info About Girl Name, Maranatha...
It is used in English, Spanish and, if Facebook is any indication, other languages, as well. Surprisingly, many Facebook entries are male.MARA N'ATHA! is an Aramaic interjection that Paul transliterates to Greek in 1Corinthians 16:22. It is further transliterated to English in the King James Version of the Bible. Other versions, more often, translate it as, "Come, oh Lord!"The Greek spelling and other details can be found at http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3134&t=KJVIt is a three-word phrase:MARE', "Lord" < http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4756&t=KJV >
NA', emphatic < http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H4994&t=KJV >
'ATHAH, "come" or "bring" < http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H858&t=KJV >Aramaic spelling is available on those pages.A literal translation would read, "Lord, DO come!" or "Lord, please hurry back!"
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Nicknames: Mara, Maranie
"Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth." Ps. 127:4
JoHannah Jubilee, BenJudah Gabriel, Aaron Josiah, Jordan Uriah,
Maranatha Nissiah, (Anastasia Nike, 1992-1992), Jeshua David,
Shiloh Joshana, Elijah Daniel, Hezekiah Nathaniel, Zephaniah Joseph

This message was edited 8/15/2014, 3:45 PM

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I added your information that you have found Spanish usage.
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Names derived from idiomatic expressions are not unprecedented, with MICHAEL being a conspicuous example.

This message was edited 8/4/2014, 1:17 PM

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Can any one please explain the history of the name? I have always been curious because I would have assumed that a name borne by an Archangel belongs to an early part of the history of the people. Were idiomatic expressions used as names of humans in that phase of history, or only of divine beings, i.e., is Michael original a human name that became an angel's name or vice-versa? If it was primarily an angel's name, what was the connotation: since angel's are not named by any one human, I would have expected their names to be more formulaic (e.g., in Gabriel).The answer may be unknown, but where else to satisfy one's curiosity but from this body of experts?
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The name simply means "Even so come Lord Jesus ". Other versions put it as "The Lord is returning". It's a prayer by Christians waiting for the return of their redeemer Jesus
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During the Jesus Movement (1960s & '70s), Jesus' return for His Church was a hot topic. "Maranatha" became more-or-less a slogan of the times. It appeared in music, names of churches and other Christian ministries. Its final -a lent itself to the feminine naming styles of American English and neighboring Spanish-speakers.IIRC, Michael was an angelic name first.

This message was edited 8/4/2014, 8:35 PM

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