Mara

[Babayaggatheboneylegged]

What does everyone think of this name? We already have a Rosa.

DH really likes Mary, but I worry that having a Rosa and a Mary would just look like we've split up the name Rosemary. So now I've come up with Mara.

I want something that's not too frilly, trendy, weird, try-hard or popular, and something that works well internationally. We have a 'foreign' surname - nothing ridiculously long, but it is difficult for people to spell/pronounce, so when we chose first time round, it was important to get something easy to spell. Other names we have considered, but I'm not totally sold on are Helen and Katia.

What does everyone think? I think I'm starting to love it, but is it even really a name? Is it actually trying a bit too hard to be 'different'?

All other suggestions welcome...

Ooh that's lovely. Not heard of it before but I like it.

Maia/Maya might also be an option.

I like it, it sounds pretty.
But just incase you would be bothered by such a thing, I think Mara is some sort of demon in Buddhism, a kind of personification of things opposite to spiritual good health. (I don't guarantee this is right I just remember coming across the name doing some research)

I like it. Don't know if it's a name or not but it sounds pretty.

I know adults called Mala (Mar-la) and Mila (Mee-la) which are definitely names if they're any good.

Ooooh love it! Unusual but not crazy! Hope you go for it!!

I like Mary and I think it goes nicely with Rosa.

There is also Maris, Marianne, Marion ...

I was at school with a Mara, who had a sister called Malindi: they were both named after places in Kenya - the Maasai Mara national park and the coastal town of Malindi. I love Mara and would have considered it had DS2 turned out to be a DD!

I know a Mara and she is beautiful, posh and Scottish.

Star Wars. Mars Jade. Cool character.

Very nice! Not heard of it before, but in some cases that can be a good thing. Pretty name

I liked this name when I was pregnant with my dd but the meanings are all a bit grim if I recall correctly.

The demon thing puts me off

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mara_(demon)

I know a Mara, it's nice

I know a Marna but have not heard Mara before.

footle is right, I beloeve it means bitterness in Hebrew. How about Miriam, (shorten to Miri?)
Or another flower name if you want it to go well with Rosa?

I think of Doris Lessing's 'Mara and Dann'.
I love it.

Sorry but dont like it, where I grew up it is a nick name of Maria but not a pretty one, when you want to call Maria ugly name, sorry.

For me Mara = the brown animals that roam everywhere at Whipsnade Zoo.

I don't think it sounds pretty at all. Sorry.

I love Mary but can see that it is awkward with Rosa.

Orla.
Oona.
Eliza.
Kezia.

Not a fan sorry. I don't think it sounds pretty and the definition of 'to mar' is to ruin or spoil, it makes me think of that.

Mara Wilson played Matilda, and I think was in Mrs Doubtfire.

I like it.

As it's a variant of Mary, I wouldn't be concerned about meaning. I'm sure I read a book as a child which had a character called Mara. Can't remember what it was though.

Conjures up terrifying memories of Dr Who in the 80s. Slightly hazy, but I think it was Peter Davison and Tegan and a massive snake called the Mara, and something about a load of mirrors. wanders off to consult Google

There was one in Trebizon