Mareike

Mareike is a Low German and Frisian diminutive form of Maria, itself derived from the Hebrew name Miryam, whose meaning is debated but often interpreted as beloved, sea of bitterness, or drop of the sea. The name developed in the coastal regions of northern Germany and the Netherlands as an affectionate vernacular variant, and it gained wider popularity throughout German-speaking countries during the twentieth century. Related forms include Marieke in Dutch, as well as the broader family of Maria derivatives such as Marie, Marike, and Marijke.