Meaning & History
Marie is a French and Czech form of Maria. It has been very common in France since the 13th century, and at the opening of the 20th century, it was given to approximately 20 percent of French girls. This percentage has declined steadily over the course of the century, and it dropped from the top rank in 1958. The name is also used in Danish, Dutch, English, German, Norwegian, Swedish, and Albanian.
Etymology
Marie derives from the Latin Maria, which in turn comes from the Greek Μαριάμ (Mariam) and the Hebrew Miryam. The meaning of the Hebrew original is uncertain; it may mean "bitter," "rebellious," or "wished-for child." In Christian tradition, Mary is the mother of Jesus, making Marie a name of significant religious importance across Europe.
Notable Bearers
One of the most famous bearers is Marie Antoinette (1755–1793), the last Queen of France before the French Revolution, who was executed by guillotine. Another is Marie Curie (1867–1934), a Polish-born physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity with her husband Pierre Curie and was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize. Other notable figures include the French saint Bernadette Soubirous (born Marie-Bernarde) and Marie de' Medici (1575–1642), Queen of France. In literature, the name appears in George Sand's real name, Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin (who used a pseudonym), and in characters such as Marie from Victor Hugo's Les Misérables.
Usage and Variants
In France, Marie is occasionally used as a masculine name in compound names such as Jean-Marie or Pierre-Marie. Diminutives and variants include Manon, Marielle, Mariette, Marion, Marise, and Maryse. In other languages, it corresponds to Maria (Dutch), Mary (English), Marja (Dutch), and Mariam/Maryam (Arabic/Malay/Urdu). In Japanese, it can be written as 真理絵 (Marī)
- Meaning: Derived from Maria, possibly meaning "bitter" or "rebellious"
- Origin: French and Czech form of Maria
- Type: Feminine given name (also used in masculine compounds in French)
- Usage Regions: Albania, Czech Republic, Denmark, Netherlands, English-speaking world, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Marie (given name)