Mara

Meaning of Mara

Mara means "bitter". It's often associated with sorrow.

Mara has Hebrew roots — browse every Hebrew baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Mara

Mara has held fairly steady, sitting around #589 in 2025 after peaking at #540 in 2021.

Notable people named Mara

• Mara Wilson
  Actress, Matilda star
• Mara Brock Akil
  Television writer and producer
• Mara Gay
  Journalist, NY Times editorial
• Mara Liasson
  NPR National Political Correspondent
• Mara Yamauchi
  British Olympic marathon runner

More Hebrew names

Questions about the name Mara

What does the name Mara mean?

Mara means mara means "bitter". it's often associated with sorrow, and it comes from Hebrew origins.

Is Mara a boy's or a girl's name?

Mara is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Mara?

In 2025, Mara ranked #589 for girls, down from #588 the year before.

When was Mara most popular?

Mara peaked at #540 in 2021.