thoughts on Mara

orangesky17

My husband and I love the name Mara, but I am hesitant to use it because it is less common and I'm worried people will have trouble pronouncing it.  Patricia is a possibility for the middle name. It's a family name but we aren't set on it. Any suggestions for middle names? Our last name is one syllable.

Zimger

I like it. I don't have any trouble with the pronunciation.

strawberrytree

I really like it. I also love the similar Lara. For middle names, Patricia sounds nice. I think it sounds good with a longer mn.
Mara Catherine, Mara Lucille, Mara Suzanne, Mara Penelope, Mara Caroline, Mara Josephine, Mara Louise.

apc1929

I love Mara   I think its simple feminine and beautiful.  I also like Maren, Marion, Moira      Patricia is a huge family name for us- my moms name and my and my dd;s mn so am a bit partial to it.  

Would also love Mara Bridget, Mara Colette, Mara Emmeline, Mara Vivian

PurpleDrewbie5

That's my name :-)

People HAVE mispronounced it my whole life. 

M-air-uh

Myra

M-ore-uh

and many other variations.

My name is pronounced. m-are-uh.

It also means bitter. That was upsetting to me for a few years after reading it in the bible. When I met my husband he found somewhere it can also mean the removal of bitterness.

 

aalex0320

My husband loves Mara, too, because it's some obscure Star Wars reference...though he is a GREAT BIG NERD, so I'm almost positive most normal people wouldn't make the connection ;-)

I wouldn't worry about mispronunciation, it's a common enough name that I think people will get it.

With Mara, I would pick a middle name that doesn't end in an -a sound, so that you don't get a weird rhyme thing going on.

Mara Patrice

Mara Rose

Mara Elise

Mara Juliet

Mara Corinne

mrs.birdie

Some people may mispronounce it, but I doubt the majority would.

wittyschaffy

That is on our girl list too!  (although we'd be doing Mar-ah)

contreras04

aalex0320:

My husband loves Mara, too, because it's some obscure Star Wars reference...though he is a GREAT BIG NERD, so I'm almost positive most normal people wouldn't make the connection ;-)

I wouldn't worry about mispronunciation, it's a common enough name that I think people will get it.

With Mara, I would pick a middle name that doesn't end in an -a sound, so that you don't get a weird rhyme thing going on.

Mara Patrice

Mara Rose

Mara Elise

Mara Juliet

Mara Corinne

I opened this thinking oooh I don't like Mara but it sounds really cute after you add the middle name to it. I love Mara Juliet it sounds adorable. Lately I've been loving Juliet!  Good luck

AimnJus917

I have always liked this name, but the meaning kinda bothers me. DH thinks some people would pronounce it "Mair-uh" which I disagree with.  MIL absolutely loves this name and would probably want us to name our baby that but I don't think I could use it for that reason, and I actually really like my MIL!  She would probably spell it Maura, which some people might say is "More-uh"  which I hate.  I prefer the Mara spelling.

aimeern623

I love it! I wish I could get my husband on board with Mara!! Good choice!

DanandVan

Friend's dd is named Mara Joy. She said they had a hard time choosing Mara because it means "bitter", hence why they added a mn Joy. Also, they pronounce it "Mair-ah" if that makes sense. I've heard it both ways.

I think its a lovely name, but I personally wouldn't choose it because I don't like the "bitter" meaning, plus I wouldn't like correcting people on pronounciation all the time.

moonglow_84

love the name Mara.  It was on my list but got vetoed.  DH ruins everything

swimiz500

Love it! I don't think people will have trouble either. 

meggers102

Love the name, hate the meaning.  I have a student whose mother's is named Mara and she is simply the nicest woman.  When ever I talk to her, I always think it is a shame that she is such a wonderful person with such a negative name

orangesky17

Thanks for the input ladies!  I don't like the meaning either, but we actually came up with the name because both our grandmothers are named Mary. Mary also means bitter, but our grandmas are far from bitter.  So, the meaning is not a dealbreaker for us.  And to those that mentioned Star Wars, my husband is also a big Star Wars nerd, which makes him like the name even more!

karijohannsen

My friend has a one year old daughter named that but spells it Marra.  I like them both.