Mariska

Robust and energetic with an even blend of spikiness and elegance, Mariska is a diminutive of Maria, notably used in Hungary and The Netherlands. Internationally, it was brought into the spotlight by Law & Order actress, Mariska Hargitay.

The meaning of Maria (and therefore Mariska) is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew root mar and yam); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr), though "wished for child" and "mother" are sometimes suggested too.

Familiar in The Netherlands and South African, it is a rare choice in the US, where it was given to just 14 girls in a recent year. It did however have a slight surge in popularity between 2006 and 2010, following Hagitay's appearance on the popular TV drama, peaking in 2007 when it was given to 107 girls.

Also borne by Dutch singer, Mariska Veres, it is pronounced as MAW-ree-shkaw in Hungarian and ma-RIS-ka in Dutch, the latter being the more intuitive among English speakers too.

Pronounced muh-RISK-uh.

As of October 2026, Mariska ranked #10607 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #1931 in 2007, Nameberry popularity #882.