Marja

Marja is a Finnish and Sorbian form of Maria, itself derived from the Hebrew name Miryam, whose meaning is debated but may relate to concepts of bitterness, beloved, or drop of the sea. In Finnish the word marja also independently means berry, giving the name an additional native association with nature. The Sami form Márjá shares the same ultimate Hebrew origin and functions as the standard equivalent of Maria in Northern Sami. Related forms include Maria, Marie, Marja-Liisa, and Marjatta, the last of which appears in Finnish mythology as the virgin mother figure in the Kalevala.