Marah first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Marah has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Marah

A feminine Arabic name meaning "bitter" or "sadness".

Popularity of Marah by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Marah is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 38 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Marah.

YearMale CountFemale Count
2024038
2023032
2022023
2021026
2020021
2019025
2018027
2017025
2016038
2015034
2014037
2013022
2012028
2011045
2010047
2009037
2008064
2007065
2006068
2005070
20040117
2003095
2002087
2001090
2000077
1999056
1998082
1997086
1996063
1995067
1994049
1993055
1992072
19910110
19900107
1989078
1988055
1987028
1986014
1985012
198409
1983011
1982012
1981024
1980015
1979011
1978013
1977013
197607
197509

The history of the first name Marah

The name Marah has its origins in the Hebrew language. It is believed to have derived from the Biblical Hebrew word "מרה" (marah), which means "bitter" or "bitterness." The name first appears in the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament, where it refers to the waters of Marah, which were described as bitter and undrinkable.

In the Bible, Marah was a location in the desert that the Israelites reached after leaving Egypt. According to the story, the people complained about the bitter waters, and Moses was instructed by God to throw a piece of wood into the water, which made it sweet and drinkable.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Marah was Marah Serapion, a Christian female martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD. She was executed during the Persecution of Christians under the Roman Emperor Decius.

Another notable figure named Marah was Marah al-Malouf, a 17th-century Arab poet and writer from Lebanon. She was renowned for her poetic works, which explored themes of love, nature, and spirituality.

In the 19th century, Marah Ellis Ryan was an American author and poet. She was born in 1860 and wrote several novels and collections of poetry, including "Fleurs de Lys" and "Poems of Life and Nature."

Marah Rusli was an Indonesian writer and journalist who lived from 1889 to 1968. She is considered one of the pioneers of modern Indonesian literature and is best known for her novels "Sitti Nurbaya" and "Mengindang Kemala."

Marah Wolff was a German-American actress who lived from 1865 to 1938. She had a successful career on the stage and also appeared in several silent films during the early 20th century.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the name Marah. While the name has its roots in the Hebrew language and Biblical references, it has been adopted and used across various cultures and time periods.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Marah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Marah, please contact us.

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