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Baby names

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

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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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romdowa · 19/09/2023 06:47

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.

Mara also means the sea in the Irish language.

muddlingthrou · 19/09/2023 07:07

I have a Yara, so I'm biased. I do have Middle Eastern heritage, so finding it funny that people are saying it sounds made up. It's been around for ages!

Mara is nice too - I know of one and she's Swiss. I associate it with slightly moneyed people as a result...

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 19/09/2023 08:09

I'm in Australia and I would have pronounced Yara so that it did NOT rhyme with Mara, because of the Yarra River in Melbourne.

Because if that I would much prefer Mara.

Ellmau · 19/09/2023 08:16

Mara is lovely.

jonnyjanetkeogh · 19/09/2023 08:36

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 19/09/2023 08:09

I'm in Australia and I would have pronounced Yara so that it did NOT rhyme with Mara, because of the Yarra River in Melbourne.

Because if that I would much prefer Mara.

Now I'm confused cos I would pronounce Yarra river the same as Yara and Mara? Same as the island Barra, like car with an ah on the end. I'm Scottish so not sure if that makes a difference.

theduchessofspork · 19/09/2023 23:06

How about Tara, Lara, Zara, Sara - I think they are all Nice-a

Mara is a bit Catherine Cookson tragic Irish Heroine in 1958 and also makes me think of Myra

Yara is a bit made up / GOT (she was cool though, TBF), I prefer it Mara I think

theduchessofspork · 19/09/2023 23:08

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 19/09/2023 08:09

I'm in Australia and I would have pronounced Yara so that it did NOT rhyme with Mara, because of the Yarra River in Melbourne.

Because if that I would much prefer Mara.

Yara is definitely a long r.

Yarra is short as you say

Usually in English a single n or r is a long sound and a double is short

OmLidia · 19/09/2023 23:13

Yara or Iara and it has meaning in the Tupi language of Amazonian Indians, I know a Iara : The word derives from Old Tupi yîara = y ("water") + îara ("lord; lady") = "lady of the lake" (water queen). Depending on the oral tradition and the context of the story, she can be seen either as a water nymph, a siren, or a beautiful mermaid that lives in the Amazon

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 20/09/2023 03:33

@theduchessofspork Usually in English a single n or r is a long sound and a double is short

Yes, BUT, there are a lot of foreign names that don't do this. I know someone who has shortened their surname to Yara and they pronounce it with a short A.

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