Mimi

Mimi is an English pet form, originating as a reduplication of the first syllable of names beginning with the sound M, most commonly Marie, Maria, or Miriam, all of which trace back ultimately to the Hebrew Miryam, of uncertain but ancient meaning. The name gained wide cultural prominence through Giacomo Puccini's 1896 opera La Bohème, in which the heroine Mimi became an emblem of romantic tragedy. It has been used independently as a given name since the nineteenth century, particularly in France, Britain, and the United States. Related forms include Mia, Mamie, and Minnie.