Manja

Manja is a Slovene feminine given name that developed as a diminutive or pet form of Marija, the Slavic equivalent of Mary. Marija itself traces back through Latin Maria and Greek Mariam to the Hebrew name Miryam, whose precise root meaning remains debated but is often connected to meanings such as beloved or sea of bitterness. Manja is used primarily in Slovenia and neighboring South Slavic-speaking regions as an affectionate short form. Related forms include Maja, Marica, and Marija itself.