girl's name
Marja
MAR-yah
- Origin Finnish, Hebrew
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Births on record 492
Marja is a girl's name with two meanings: it's a Finnish, Dutch and Sámi form of Mary, and it's also the ordinary Finnish word for "berry." In Finnish the two sounds overlap, so the name carries both senses at once.
- Marja is a name of Finnish, Hebrew origin.
- Peaked in 1978, when 45 babies were given the name.
- It has largely dropped out of use.
- First appears in US birth records in 1921.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Marja Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1920s to 1990s.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 5 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 28 |
| 1950s | 68 |
| 1960s | 74 |
| 1970s | 111 |
| 1980s | 113 |
| 1990s | 38 |
What Marja Means
Marja means berry in Finnish and takes on the disputed meanings of Mary as a form of that name. A Finnish speaker hears the nature word first, which gives it a fresh, everyday quality.
Where Marja Comes From
Mary comes through Greek and Latin from the Hebrew Miryam, a name whose meaning scholars debate, with proposals such as beloved or rebellious. Finnish took Maria and adapted it, and Marja developed as a native spelling, since Finnish pronounces Maria and Marja very closely. Dutch and Sorbian speakers use the same form. The coincidence with the Finnish word marja, berry, made it especially natural in Finland, where compounds such as Marja-Liisa were common in the twentieth century. Older Finnish poetry adds a further link, since the Kalevala's heroine Marjatta conceives after swallowing a berry.
Marja in Use
The Kalevala story of Marjatta deliberately echoes the Virgin Mary, and it shows how closely Finnish culture ties the name to the word. Finnish skier Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi is among its best-known bearers.
How Popular Is Marja?
In 1999, Marja was given to 6 babies in the United States. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for the United States.
Where Marja Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Marja
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Marja Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Marja over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Marja
- Pronunciation MAR-yah
Marja in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Marja
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Marja — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Marja
What does the name Marja mean?
It means berry in Finnish and is also a form of Mary.
How do you pronounce Marja?
MAR-yah. The j sounds like an English y.
Is Marja a Finnish name?
Yes, and it's used in Dutch and Sámi as well.
How popular is the name Marja?
In 1999, Marja was given to 6 babies in the United States. It was given to fewer than five babies in the most recent year of published figures for the United States.
Is Marja a girl's or a boy's name?
Marja is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Marja?
Marja has 2 syllables.
When was Marja most popular?
Marja peaked in 1978, when 45 babies were given the name. It has largely dropped out of use.