Mariyka

Mariyka is a Ukrainian and Bulgarian diminutive form of Maria, itself the Latin and Greek rendering of the Hebrew name Miryam, whose precise root meaning is debated but is often interpreted as beloved, sea of bitterness, or drop of the sea. The name Maria gained widespread use throughout the Christian world largely through veneration of the Virgin Mary, making its pet forms like Mariyka common terms of endearment across Slavic cultures. Related forms include Mariya, Marysia, and Marika.