The first name Mara
A girl’s name from Hebrew meaning “bitterness”, “bitter”.
2 syllables Female Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Hebrew origin
Mara means “bitterness”, “bitter” in Hebrew.
From Hebrew מָרָא (mara, “bitterness”), derived from Hebrew מַר (mar, “bitter”). The modern given name may also be shortened from Maria or Tamara.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 74 girls were named Mara, making it the 538th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2024, with 118 births (#369).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Mara with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Mara at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 499 girls born in the United States were named Mara, the 589th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2021, when 568 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Famous people named Mara
13 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Mara WilsonAmerican actress, born 1987
- Mara CordayAmerican actor and model (1930–2025)
- Mara AbbottAmerican racing cyclist, born 1985
- Mara ScherzingerGerman actress, born 1989
- Mara BunevaBulgarian revolutionary, 1902–1928
- Mara LakićBosnian basketball player, born 1963
- Mara GabrilliBrazilian psychologist and politician, born 1967
- Mara BelchevaBulgarian poet (1868-1937)
- Mara LaneAustrian actress, 1930–2014
- Mara ManzanBrazilian actress (1952-2009)
- Mara YamauchiBritish long distance track, and road running athlete, born 1973
- Mara MattuschkaAustrian film director, born 1959
More Hebrew girls’ names
Questions
- What does the name Mara mean?
- Mara means “bitterness”, “bitter” in Hebrew.
- What is the origin of the name Mara?
- From Hebrew מָרָא (mara, “bitterness”), derived from Hebrew מַר (mar, “bitter”). The modern given name may also be shortened from Maria or Tamara.
- How popular is the name Mara?
- In 2025, 74 girls born in England and Wales were named Mara, ranking 538th. Its peak was 2024, with 118 births.
- Is Mara a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 24,054 US babies named Mara since 1880 were girls.
- When was Mara most popular?
- 2021 in the United States, when 568 babies were named Mara, its highest rank at 540th.
- Is Mara also a surname?
- Yes. Mara is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.