Marah Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAH-rah //ˈmɑː.rə//
Origin: Hebrew; Arabic
Meaning: Hebrew: bitter; Arabic: a place of bitterness
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Marah has its roots in the Hebrew language, derived from the word 'mar,' which means 'bitter.' This etymology is significant as it connects to the biblical narrative found in the Book of Exodus, where Marah is the name of a location mentioned in the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness. In this context, the waters of Marah were initially undrinkable due to their bitterness, which serves as a poignant symbol of hardship and the trials faced by the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt.
The name thus carries connotations of struggle and resilience, reflecting the challenges of life. Historically, Marah appears in the biblical text as a pivotal moment in the Israelites' journey, specifically in the 13th century BCE, when Moses led them out of slavery.
The narrative emphasizes the transformation of the bitter waters into sweet, symbolizing hope and divine intervention. This story has resonated through centuries, influencing various interpretations and adaptations in religious and literary contexts, including the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, and later the Latin Vulgate.
Culturally, the name Marah has been associated with themes of bitterness and sorrow, but also with the potential for renewal and change. It embodies a duality that has made it a meaningful choice in various traditions.
In some contexts, diminutive forms such as Mara have emerged, further enriching the name's cultural tapestry. The enduring significance of Marah in religious texts and its evocative meaning contribute to its lasting presence in the lexicon of names.
Fictional characters named Marah
The following list of fictional characters named Marah is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Marah is a fictional character from the video game series Mortal Kombat. She is a character introduced in the Mortal Kombat universe, known for her role in the storyline involving the realms and their protectors.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Marah, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Marah. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Marah was first seen in the United States in 1964.
Marah has ranked as high as #1225 nationally, which occurred in 2004, and has been most popular in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Marah has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Marah is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Marah was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Marah (2023)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Marah.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 38 |
| 2023 | 32 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2020 | 21 |
| 2019 | 25 |
| 2018 | 27 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2016 | 38 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2014 | 37 |
| 2013 | 22 |
| 2012 | 28 |
| 2011 | 45 |
| 2010 | 47 |
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2008 | 64 |
| 2007 | 65 |
| 2006 | 68 |
| 2005 | 70 |
| 2004 | 117 |
| 2003 | 95 |
| 2002 | 87 |
| 2001 | 90 |
| 2000 | 77 |
| 1999 | 56 |
| 1998 | 82 |
| 1997 | 86 |
| 1996 | 63 |
| 1995 | 67 |
| 1994 | 49 |
| 1993 | 55 |
| 1992 | 72 |
| 1991 | 110 |
| 1990 | 107 |
| 1989 | 78 |
| 1988 | 55 |
| 1987 | 28 |
| 1986 | 14 |
| 1985 | 12 |
| 1984 | 9 |
| 1983 | 11 |
| 1982 | 12 |
| 1981 | 24 |
| 1980 | 15 |
| 1979 | 11 |
| 1978 | 13 |
| 1977 | 13 |
| 1976 | 7 |
| 1975 | 9 |
| 1974 | 7 |
| 1973 | 8 |
| 1972 | 7 |
| 1971 | 5 |
| 1970 | 8 |
| 1969 | 5 |
| 1967 | 6 |
| 1964 | 5 |