Mary, Miriam, Marie, Maria etc.

This name is so ancient, the meaning has been lost. It is traditionally connected to the Hebrew word meaning "bitterness," but it may be from an older Egyptian source.  It may be also be connected to the Indo-European word for "mother."

Pet forms: Moll, Molly, Polly, Maisie, Mitzi, May
Related Names: Mara, Maura, Maureen, Mariamne, Mariana, Maribel, Mariel, Marilyn, Marion, Marisa, Marlene
Masculine forms: Marius and Mario are often used as male versions of Mary, but they probably stem from the name of the god Mars (see Mark, Martin)