Manya

Manya is a Russian diminutive form of Mariya, the Russian equivalent of Mary, which traces back through Latin Maria and Greek Mariam to the Hebrew name Miryam. The precise meaning of Miryam is debated, with proposed interpretations including beloved, sea of bitterness, and drop of the sea. As a pet form, Manya was commonly used in everyday speech as an affectionate alternative to the more formal Mariya in Russian-speaking communities. Related forms include Masha, Mara, and Marusya, all diminutives of the same root name.