International Variations of Mary

Actress Hargitay made us notice this one, it makes a robust, energetic Slavic impression.

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.

The final a adds a lot of style.

A less-popular alternative to Juliette, perhaps – although it feels rather more dated.

Derived from Maria, the meaning of which is uncertain. Theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

A pretty and little-known Spanish smoosh name, combining Maria with Celia.

This is one elaboration of the ubiquitous Isobel that we think should be chosen more often and would work well in many languages.

Foreign variations of Mary are definitely the way to go; this one has a nice Dutch-girl feel. It also works as a cultural crossover name, e.g. between European languages and Japanese.

Variant of Mariella

Majken, which is related to Maiken and Maike, is a popular name in Sweden whose variations are used throughout Scandinavia as cooler forms of Mary. Majken is virtually unknown in the U.S. and probably not bound for emigration.

A lovely and typical name on the eastern shore of the Gulf of Bothnia that no one in the English-speaking world will know how to pronounce. Maia sounds (virtually) the same and is far more familiar outside Finland and Latvia.

A sweet and simple nickname for Marie that could serve to freshen up the outdated full form.

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?

Variant of Marybeth

Some sources say Mele is a South Sea Islander form of Mary, but it's also a name in its own right meaning song.

Variant of Marise