Bloganuary writing prompt

Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.

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Maria is my first name, but I seldom ever use it because it is a pretty common name in Latin America. I introduce myself as Astrid, yet respond to Maria when someone prefers that name. I knew that Astrid could mean something as “beloved by the gods,” but I had no idea what Maria meant until I had to research for this prompt ( 😛 ). The roots of the name Maria can be traced back to Hebrew and Latin, where it has different meanings and connotations.

In Hebrew, the name Maria comes from the word “marah,” which means “bitter” or “rebellious.” This meaning is likely derived from the Old Testament story of the prophetess Miriam, who rebelled against Moses and was punished with leprosy (a terrible fate for a time when there was no treatment). However, despite its negative origins, the name Maria has come to be associated with positive qualities such as purity, grace, and compassion.

In Latin, the name Maria is derived from the name Marius, which means “male” or “masculine” (?). This contrasts with the feminine qualities that the name Maria has come to represent. Still, it is believed that the name Marius could have been given as a family name or surname and eventually evolved into a given name for girls.

Now, the most common reason why girls in Latin America are named Maria is because the name has been popularized by its associations with the Virgin Mary, who is venerated in Christianity and other faiths. For this reason, the name Maria symbolizes purity, devotion, and motherly love. I think that Virgin Mary might have put a lot of pressure on all the Marias in the world, to be honest. However, I’m at peace most of the time knowing that I’ll never be perfect.

I’ll be honest. I was not expecting to learn so much by researching the origin of my fairly common first name. Did you learn anything new about your first name? If so, you are more than welcome to share that in the comments 🙂

About the Author:
I’m Astrid, a biologist who made a career shift to become a virtual assistant and an accountability partner. My journey from the world of science to customer service and freelancing has given me a unique perspective on life, and I sometimes share it here on WordPress.

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