Mariela

Mariela is a Spanish and Bulgarian diminutive form of Maria, itself the Latin and Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Miryam, whose meaning is debated but often interpreted as beloved, sea of bitterness, or drop of the sea. The name spread widely through the veneration of the Virgin Mary in Catholic and Orthodox traditions, making elaborated forms like Mariela common across Spanish-speaking countries and the Balkans. Related forms include Mariella, Mariel, and Maria itself.