Names That Mean Bitter

One of the oldest and most widely used compound names, now a bit dated but not as much so as its opposite Mary-Ann. The hyphen is optional.

A Dutch version of Marie - this is a cute name that has potential.

Why does Mairi (rhymes with Harry) seem so much cooler than Mary? This Irish form of Mary was not used before the seventeenth century, as it was considered too sacred. The vocative case of the name, Mhairi (pronounced VAH-ree), is also used as a given name in Scotland.

Technically the vocative case of Màiri (the Scottish Gaelic form of Mary), Mhairi/Mhàiri has nevertheless become established as a given name in its own right. Although some bearers choose to anglicize the pronunciation, the "Mh" in Scottish Gaelic is correctly pronounced with a "V" sound.

This version of Malia (as in Obama) peaked at Number 296 in 2009, though it has lost ground since then.

In the Old Testament, Merari is one of Levi's sons.

A saint who is especially popular in Galicia and Asturias in Spain, who is said to have sailed across the Atlantic to paradise. His name may derive from Germanic Adelmar, possibly influenced by Latin amarus "bitter".

Malea, for familiar to Americans spelled Malia as in Malia Obama, is a Top 100 name in Germany and Switzerland. In the US, only about 40 baby girls were named Malea last year, versus 1100 named Malia.

Maliah is a spelling variation of former First Daughter's name Malia and has seen some use since it first appeared on the US Top 1000 in 2009.

Has followed mother name Maureen off the radar screen.

Pronounced MY-keh, this German form of Mary was very popular a few decades ago. Might make a fresh alternative to Mikayla and sisters. The Frisian version is Maike, and the Biblical male Micah sounds the same.

Mary has hundreds of variations around the world, and this German form, pronounced Ma-RYE-keh, is virtually unknown in English-speaking lands. A possible alternative to Mariah?

Irish Gaelic spelling of Molly, which derives from Mary.

Unusual Mary variety with literary underpinnings, most famously as a character in J.M. Synge's Riders to the Sea. You may have to do constant explaining of the spelling and pronunciation, but if you're looking for a distinctive and attractive form of Mary, you've found it.