Mari

The first name Mari has different origins and is primarily used as a short form of Maria in Breton, Estonian, Finnish, and Welsh contexts. It is also regarded as a Nordic or Scandinavian variant of Marie and as a Hungarian diminutive of Mária.

What does the name Mari mean?

Mari has diverse origins and is considered a short form of Maria. These names ultimately derive from the Hebrew name Mirjam. Translated into English, Mari means 'the rebellious one', 'the bitter one', 'the well-nourished one', 'the beloved one', 'the one coming from the sea', 'the drop of the sea', or 'the star of the sea'. The exact origin of the name remains unclear, but an ancient Egyptian derivation from mry meaning 'beloved' is suspected. In Japanese, the name means 'the truth', but can also be interpreted differently depending on the kanji. In ancient Korean, the unisex name is often associated with 'the mountain peak', but is also frequently translated as 'the good one', 'the best one', and 'the first one'. In Basque mythology, Mari was the name of a goddess of fertility and weather. This designation derives from the Basque words emari meaning 'the gift' or amari meaning 'the mother'. In Armenian script, the name is written as Մարի and in Georgian as მარი. The name Maria, along with its variants, is one of the most widely used Christian girl names. Alternatives include Mariah, Meri, Marija, Marie, Mariea, Amarie, Maleah, and Mary. This name became well-known through the mother of Jesus, making it a symbol of pure and deeply felt love.

Where does the name Mari come from?

The origin of the name Mari is of ancient Hebrew and ancient Aramaic nature, which is reflected in the meaning 'the rebellious one'. Ancient Egyptian, Ancient Aramaic, and Ancient Hebrew offer various compositions such as mirjam = the bitterness (Aramaic), mry = the beloved one (Egyptian), and myr = fruitful (Hebrew). The languages in which Mari appears include Breton, Finnish, Scandinavian, Hungarian, and Welsh.

How do you pronounce Mari?

The pronunciation of Mari is clear and two-syllable. In German, the name is usually pronounced as 'Ma-ri' [ˈmaːʁi], with the long 'a' producing an open, warm sound. The ending '-ri' gives the name a light, lively touch. Overall, Mari conveys a simple, friendly impression - soft, harmonious, and timeless.

When is the name day of Mari?

The name day for Mari is celebrated on several days: January 1, January 30, February 2, February 11, July 6, August 15, and September 12.

Popularity

In Germany, Mari is among the popular first names and currently ranks 1,107th on the list of the most common female baby names. The name achieved its best ranking in 2010 at 507th place. Over the last ten years, Mari has been given as a first name about 350 times, placing it at 1,107th in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, it ranks 965th.

Nicknames & pet names

Fie / Ma / Mary / Miu

Similar first names

Famous people

• Ann Mari Sjogren (Swedish artist)
• Ann-Mari Lindberg (Finnish writer)
• Anne-Mari Hyryläinen (long-distance runner from Canada)
• Lize-Mari Retief (swimmer from the USA)
• Mari (character from the novel 'Veronika Decides to Die' by Paulo Coelho)
• Mari Andriessen (sculptor from the Netherlands)
• Mari Annu (Japanese actress)
• Mari Boine (singer, musician, and artist)
• Mari Christine Fitzduff (writer from America)
• Mari Devon (actress from the USA)
• Mari Ekelof Chauhan (model from Norway)
• Mari Evans (Canadian poet)
• Mari Hamada (Japanese singer)
• Mari Henmi (Japanese actress)
• Mari Holden (American cyclist)
• Mari Iijima (Japanese singer)
• Mari Kimura (Japanese musician)
• Mari Konno (Japanese basketball player)
• Mari Lampinen (Finnish biathlete)
• Mari Mancusi (American writer)