Since I know you love baby name posts... Mara?

[OscarQ]

I like it. Kind of like Maura. Reminds me of the Mara family (owners of the NY Giants). And neither of those meanings would put me off the name.

[Jem]

I really like Mara and it was in the running for us. Good suggestion by your DH!

[Deleted]

how are you pronouncing it?
mare-a or mau-ra

[bunch]

As I posted in your other thread, I love Mira. I'm not sure that I love Mara, i don't know why.

[Deleted]

I like it!

[h]

I like it. I have a friend named Mara, so I have good associations with it. The meaning would not bother me. I do think you will have some pronounciation issues, though (Mare-a versus Mar-a)

[oregonpachey]

Would it be pronounced mare-uh or marr-uh?

Either way, it's very pretty!

[hedgiecrazy]

I like it. It's different, but not out there. :Y:

[octwed07]

I think it's pretty -- i would pronounce it as mar-a too like you suggest with the mar rhyming car.

[Deleted]

It's nice. I like some of your other options better though.

[6fsn]

Mara/Maura is on my list. I like it.

[drloretta]

I wouldn't worry about other cultures/languages. You can find different connotations for a lot of names depending on where you look.

It's NMS, but if you love it, go for it. We're not naming this baby, you are.

[Willis Jackson]

Love it. Also love Mira.

Love love love.

[barefootcontessa]

FYI: I believe Mara and its derivatives (like Mary) mean bitter in either Hebrew or Aramaic.

[Deleted]

Any derivitive of Mary means bitter...Mary is my favorite girls name (my awesome sister's name). I named my DD3 Merryn (not from Mary but it is a Catholic Saint's name) but we call her Merry I like Mara & Maura & Mira FWIW!

[lisam]

That was going to be our baby's name, until we found out that she was really a he two weeks before he was born! Now that I've had almost 2 years to think about it and if we'd use it if we ever have a girl, I'm not loving it as much. I think the pronunciation issues would drive me crazy...but we'll see, maybe I'll change my mind again! Good luck with your decision

[Deleted]

May 21, 2012 18:39:38 GMT -5 @msstarry said:

The pronunciation thing does bug me a bit since our last name is a beast... but I really do like the name a lot. I suggested Cora instead (short first name ending in "ra") but have gathered from the bump that Cora is trending very up. DH doesn't like Mira.

The child will have a name, I promise!

Damn it, Cora is on my list (I blame Downton Abbey)!

I like Mara. I know an adult who says it the same way, but it's spelled Maira. Maybe that helps? (you could always throw an extraneous y in there too, lol).

[Deleted]

I knew a Mara (pronounced Mare- ah) and I knew a Maura (pronounced Maur-uh)

I think both are pretty.

[locarb]

May 21, 2012 12:37:09 GMT -5 littlespitfire said:

I like it a lot. The meanings would not bother me, but I've never cared about that stuff.

Ditto

[Deleted]

May 21, 2012 18:46:15 GMT -5 @msstarry said:

Here is my Cora thread

community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/66047286.aspx

WTF how have so many people never seen Downton Abbey!!!

[pugz]

I like it but it would be a pronunciation challenge for many I'm sure.

I luuuuurve Cora.

[KaraOrNot]

May 21, 2012 13:11:08 GMT -5 @msstarry said:

Mar (rhymes with car) - a

I imagine there would be a good portion of mispronounciations with Mare - a. I am not sure if that bothers me.

My name is Kara (car-a) and people mispronounce it all the freaking time, even after I tell them how to pronounce it (usually multiple times). I like the name Mara, but know that you will likely spend a lot of time correcting people.

[Willis Jackson]

I just suggested Cora to DH the other day. When he nixed it I said, "What about Mary? Edith? Sybil?" and he was like, "Heeeeey, wait a minute . . . "

[katieb4tom]

I like it!

[Gravy train]

May 21, 2012 18:03:37 GMT -5 L said:

Any derivitive of Mary means bitter...Mary is my favorite girls name (my awesome sister's name). I named my DD3 Merryn (not from Mary but it is a Catholic Saint's name) but we call her Merry I like Mara & Maura & Mira FWIW!

My name is Maureen, which is also derived from Mary.
I like Mara,