Maaike

Maaike is a Dutch feminine given name, functioning as a diminutive form of Maria, which itself derives from the Hebrew Miryam, a name of uncertain meaning though often associated with roots suggesting bitterness, beloved, or drop of the sea. It has been a familiar and affectionate everyday form of Maria in the Netherlands for centuries, carrying a warm, informal character typical of Dutch pet-name formations. Related forms include Maike, used in Frisian and Low German traditions, as well as the broader international variants Marie, Mary, and Miriam.