The nameMara
Mara is a short girl's name, rising in France since the 2000s.
- Girl's name
- Hebrew
Meaning
From the Hebrew mara, "bitter". In the Bible, Naomi asks to be called by this name.
Origin
Hebrew, also used in Eastern Europe and Italy.
History
First given in France in the early 1950s, Mara has grown since the 2000s and peaked in the early 2020s, mostly in the Île-de-France region.
Popularity of the name Mara
Mara in France
Mara was most popular in France in the 2010s, with 345 births over the decade, 30% of all recorded babies named Mara. Its rise began around 1975, and it peaked in 2024. Half of all babies named Mara in France were born before 2014, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 58 births a year on average, against 49 in the five years before.
Mara in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mara mean?
From the Hebrew mara, "bitter". In the Bible, Naomi asks to be called by this name.
What is the origin of the name Mara?
Hebrew, also used in Eastern Europe and Italy.
Is Mara a girl's or a boy's name?
Mara is a girl's name.