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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Yara or Mara

59 replies

Hidingplace · 18/09/2023 14:35

Does anyone have an opinions on these names? Baby was born 5 days ago and as we thought it was a boy, we didn’t have any names. The only one I did have doesn’t feel right. I find girls names so hard…I like these two - complete coincidence that they rhyme! Apparently Yara is a character in GoT, I don’t watch it so had no idea. Not sure how much it matters? Partner says it doesn’t. Help please as people keep asking me and I’d like to stop calling her baby!

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Whereisthesummer1 · 18/09/2023 18:22

Mara is the name of a sort of Demon in Buddhism and sometimes called the Lord of death. Sorry that’s not a very positive comment from me but I thought it might be useful to know.

Antsinmypantsneedtodance · 18/09/2023 18:20

I always liked Yara.

Mara ie a small rabbit like animal. It also means bitter.

Blahblahblah2 · 18/09/2023 18:15

Yara is a girl's name in Brazil and in Arabic countries. If you are not from either of these cultures, I would find it a bit of a pretentious choice.

SpringIntoChaos · 18/09/2023 18:14

Mara for me.

Yara sounds made up (my phone didn't recognise it and changed it to Tara). Sounds a bit like a spiky plant in my head...like a Yucca (no idea why, but that's the association I got when I saw it written down 🤷‍♀️).

Barleysugar86 · 18/09/2023 18:06

Mara makes me think of Mara Wilson too- and it's a lovely association as she is pretty cool. I would expect a Mara to be female and any ethnicity.

Never heard of Yara but I would assume they were non-white and probably male, if that helps at all.

Chevronica · 18/09/2023 18:05

Congrats on your baby. I prefer Mara of these two (partly because I’d never heard of Yara and my immediate association was the Yarra river in Melbourne)

SkaneTos · 18/09/2023 18:00

I think both Yara and Mara are lovely names!
Sapphira is a lovely name, too! (I have never heard about the car.)

Good Luck!

jolaylasofia · 18/09/2023 17:09

i know about 100 yara's as i work in a school- middle eastern name...i would go with mara

Original poster
Hidingplace · 18/09/2023 16:46

Thank you! That’s made me feel a bit better about both of them!

OP posts:
ParadiseZity · 18/09/2023 16:12

I know an 11 year old girl North African called Yara (she's lovely and vivacious) and went to uni with a Mara (who'll be middle aged now) who was also great fun. I think Mara is quite elegant and also reminds me of the Masai Mara, which is a beautiful part of Kenya.

Original poster
Hidingplace · 18/09/2023 15:53

Thank you, I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help me. It’s just a coincidence they rhyme; it’s not that I want it to end in ara! The original name I had was Sapphira as biblical like my sons but reading posts on here people said it sounded like the car Zafira and now I can’t get away from that! I just said to OH and son we will call her various names for the next few hours and see which one sticks! It’s a good plan. Names are so personal; I know that some people will love and some
people will loathe whatever I choose!

OP posts:
GoodVibesHere · 18/09/2023 15:53

Congratulations OP.

I've heard of Mara because of Mara Wilson the child actress in Mrs Doubtfire and Miracle on 34th street. It's nice enough.

I've never heard Yara and would've assumed it was a boys name, also it sounds like a made up random sound sorry.

jonnyjanetkeogh · 18/09/2023 15:47

Have you tried calling her Yara for a day and then Mara for a day and see which name seems best that way? It's how my mum settled on my name cos she couldn't choose between two either. Worked for her and I love my name.

Notamaterlistictypeofwoman · 18/09/2023 15:41

She didn't ask anyone for anymore baby names, so please respect that, all she asked is out of the names she has chosen which one do people prefer.

Bobbybobbins · 18/09/2023 15:38

Not keen on Yara

Mara is ok

How about
Tara
Lara
Zara
Cara
Sara

Sugarfree23 · 18/09/2023 15:34

What about Sara, or Sarah, Maria, Miriam

mathanxiety · 18/09/2023 15:34

I'm in the US and know a couple of Yaritzas - a Mexican name derived from Arabic, meaning (apparently) butterfly.

I like Yara. Mara is nice but a bit sedate imo.

Original poster
Hidingplace · 18/09/2023 15:23

Thank you…I’ve felt defensive when reading some of these comments haha, maybe I do prefer one to another! For boys names, we had a lot of biblical names. I’m not religious but my son has a biblical name and I love it. I’m a teacher so names are especially hard as I need one that doesn’t remind me of a certain child/family!! I don’t think I can go back to baby names lists…it’s taken me long enough to narrow it down to 2!

OP posts:
Robinbuildsbears · 18/09/2023 15:17

Yara: meaning friend, helper in Persian

Mara: meaning bitter in Hebrew

Prefer the sound of Mara, but prefer the meaning of Yara.

fancyfrogs · 18/09/2023 15:12

I prefer Mara. Congratulations 😊

AliceMcK · 18/09/2023 15:11

Yara - definitely think GOT
Mara - ok

what about Amara? I know a little girl called Amara it really suits her.

allmyliesaretrue · 18/09/2023 15:08

Sorry but I don't like either of them!

Which boys' names do you like? I found girl names so much easier.

JaneJeffer · 18/09/2023 15:04

Yara sounds like some ould Irish man disagreeing with you.

Original poster
Hidingplace · 18/09/2023 14:57

Oh goodness, thank you everyone. I guess it’s so subjective…I’m really struggling. Wish my head was a bit clearer so I can focus. I keep putting off the decision! I’ve narrowed it down to these 2 and now wish I didn’t have 2 options, haha! I find boys names so much easier!

OP posts:
Sugarfree23 · 18/09/2023 14:57

Mara makes me think about the sea, marine, maritime etc

Yara, I'm just not sold on either.

If neither is feeling right to you either then get the baby name book back out