Maire

Maire is a Finnish first name for girls that means "the sweet one". This name is derived from the Finnish word mairea, which means "sugared, sweet, or cute". In the spelling Máire, it represents the Irish variant of the biblical name Maria, whose exact origin and meaning are unclear.

What does the name Maire mean?

Maire is a female name from Finland that carries the meaning "the sweet one" and is derived from the Finnish word mairea, which means "sugared, sweet, or cute". In contrast, Máire is the Irish form of Maria, whose origin and meaning are not definitively established. One possible derivation could come from Egyptian, where it means "the beloved". Several meanings can also be derived from Aramaic and Hebrew, including "the (gift from God)", "the well-nourished", "the sea myrrh", "the drop of the sea", "the rebellious one", or "the untamed one". For more information on the various derivations, we refer to the name page of Maria. The name Maire is common in both Finland and neighboring Estonia. In the spelling Máire, it is also a cherished female first name in Ireland and Great Britain. A prominent bearer of this name is the Irish singer Máire Philomena Ní Bhraonáin, who is also known as Máire or Moya Brennan.

Where does the name Maire come from?

The name Maire has its roots in Ancient Hebrew and Finnish and encompasses meanings such as "the (gift from God)" as well as "the sweet one" and others. The origin is attributed to both Egyptian and Ancient Hebrew. In Finnish, the word mairea means "sugared, sweet, or cute". In Egyptian, mry could mean "beloved", while in Ancient Hebrew, mir means "bitter" and jam means "sea". Meanings such as "rebellious" or "to fatten" are also possible. The languages in which the name appears include English, Estonian, Finnish, and Irish.

How do you pronounce Maire?

The pronunciation of Maire can be interpreted as either monosyllabic or disyllabic and has an open vocal sound. It is pronounced as "Mai-re" [ˈmaɪ̯ʁə] or in Irish [ˈmɑːrʲə]. The diphthong "ai" gives the name a gliding sound movement. The soft "r" at the end adds a certain depth, making Maire sound melodic, light, and rich in tradition – floating in sound and harmonious in conclusion.

When is the name day of Maire?

The most important name day for Máire is celebrated on September 12 (Feast of the Holy Name of Mary).

Popularity

In Germany, Maire is among the less common first names. Currently, it ranks 5,884th among the most popular female baby names. Its best ranking was in 2011, when it reached 2,438th place. Over the last ten years, Maire has been used as a first name about 30 times, placing it at 5,157th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 5,234th.

Famous people

• Maire Aunaste (Estonian writer)
• Maire Bhuii Ni Laoghaire (Irish poet)
• Maire Breathnach (Irish actress)
• Maire Breatnach (singer with Clannad)
• Maire Mhacantsaoi (writer from Ireland)
• Maire Ni Chathasaigh (Irish musician)
• Maire Ui Dhroigneain (actress from Ireland)