Manca

Manca is a Slovene feminine given name that originated as a diminutive or colloquial short form of Marija, the Slovene form of Maria, which itself derives from the Hebrew name Miryam, whose precise meaning is debated but may relate to concepts of bitterness, beloved, or wished-for child. The name has long been popular in Slovenia and the surrounding South Slavic cultural sphere. Related forms include Maja, Marica, and Mojca, all of which developed as Slovene pet forms of Marija.