Marieke

Marieke is a feminine first name that has its roots in Low German, Frisian, and Dutch languages. It represents a pet form of the biblical name Maria, whose exact origin and meaning are not definitively clarified.

What does the name Marieke mean?

The name Marieke is regarded as a pet form of Maria and is widely used in northern German and Dutch regions. It was especially popular in the 1970s and 1980s. The short form of the name is Mieke, while Marijke represents a purely Dutch spelling. Other variants include Maraike, Mareika, Mareike, Mareikje, Mareka, Mareke, Marijkje, Marike, and Mariken. The meaning of the name Maria is not definitive but could be interpreted from Egyptian as "the beloved" or from Hebrew in various forms such as "the (gift) from God," "the well-nourished," "the sea myrrh," "the sea drop," "the rebellious one," and "the untamed." Notable bearers of the name include the German actress Marieke Oeffinger and the Dutch actress and singer Marieke Westenenk.

Where does the name Marieke come from?

The name Marieke has ancient Hebrew roots and can have meanings such as "the (gift) from God" or "the sea myrrh." The origin of the word consists of various ancient Hebrew components, including mry for "beloved" (Egyptian) or mir for "bitter" as well as jam for "sea." Meanings such as "rebellious" and "to give" are also attributed to it. The languages in which the name occurs include Frisian, Low German, Dutch, and North Frisian.

How do you pronounce Marieke?

The pronunciation of the name Marieke is soft and melodic, comprising three to four syllables. It is pronounced as "Ma-rie-ke" [maˈʁiːkə] and begins with an open "a," which radiates a pleasant warmth. The middle syllable, containing a long "i," gives the name a clear brightness, while the ending "-ke" sounds friendly and light. Overall, Marieke conveys a down-to-earth and harmonious impression that combines tradition and melody.

When is the name day of Marieke?

The most important name day for Marieke is September 12, dedicated to the Feast of the Name of Mary.

Popularity

In Germany, Marieke is among the more common names for girls. The name currently ranks 989th on the list of the most popular baby names. Its best placement was in 2009 at rank 279. Over the last ten years, Marieke has been given as a first name approximately 640 times, placing it 703rd in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, the name ranks 614th.

Nicknames & pet names

Ieke / Ike / Kieke / Kiki / Mani / Mara / Mari / Mariechen / Mariemitke / Mariki / Mary / Micki / Mieke / Mimi / Rieke / Rieki / Rike / Riki

Similar first names

Famous people

• Marieke Hardy (writer from Australia)
• Marieke Katherine D'Cruz (swimmer from Australia)
• Marieke Oeffinger (actress)
• Marieke van den Ham (Dutch water polo player)
• Marieke van der Pol (actress from the Netherlands)
• Marieke van der Wal (handball player from the Netherlands)
• Marieke van Drogenbroek (rowing athlete from the Netherlands)
• Marieke van Wanroij (Luxembourgish cyclist)
• Marieke Westenenk (Dutch actress & singer)
• Marieke Westerhof (Dutch rowing athlete)