Mara: meaning of the Hebrew name

מָרָה

Pronounced mah-RAH

Meaning of Mara

Mara comes from the Hebrew word for bitterness. In the Book of Ruth, Naomi asks to be called Mara after her loss, and Marah is also the name of a place where the Israelites camped in the wilderness.

And she said unto them: ‘Call me not Naomi, call me Marah; for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

וַתֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶן אַל־תִּקְרֶאנָה לִי נׇעֳמִי קְרֶאןָ לִי מָרָא כִּי־הֵמַר שַׁדַּי לִי מְאֹד׃

Mara in Hebrew

Mara is written מרה in Hebrew (with vowel points: מָרָה). Hebrew is read from right to left.

  • מMem
  • רResh
  • הHe

Gematria value: 245 (Mem 40 + Resh 200 + He 5)

About the name

  • GenderGirl
  • OriginBiblical
  • Meaningbitterness
  • Pronunciationmah-RAH
  • Hebrewמרה
  • Syllables2

Popularity in Israel

Mara was not among the 150 most common boys' or girls' names in Israel in the CBS data for 2014-2024.

Source: Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), first names given to Jewish newborns, 2014-2024. Ranks cover the 150 most common names per year.

Similar names

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Questions about Mara

What does the name Mara mean?

Mara comes from the Hebrew word for bitterness. In the Book of Ruth, Naomi asks to be called Mara after her loss, and Marah is also the name of a place where the Israelites camped in the wilderness.

How do you pronounce Mara?

Mara is pronounced mah-RAH in modern Israeli Hebrew. The syllable in capital letters is stressed.

How do you write Mara in Hebrew?

Mara is written מרה in Hebrew (with vowel points: מָרָה).

Is Mara a biblical name?

Yes. Mara appears in the Hebrew Bible, in Ruth 1:20.

What is the gematria of Mara?

In gematria, the Hebrew spelling מרה adds up to 245 (Mem 40 + Resh 200 + He 5).

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This name in Hebrew: מרה