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Marja as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Marja

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The baby name Marja is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmɑr.jɑ/ (common English approximation: "MAR-yah").

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Pronunciation: /ˈmɑr.jɑ/ (common English approximation: "MAR-yah")

What is the meaning of the name Marja ?

The baby name Marja is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmɑr.jɑ/ (common English approximation: "MAR-yah").

Marja is in Origin.

Marja is a feminine given name used chiefly in Finland and the Netherlands, also found in Estonia and parts of the Balkans. It is a regional form of Maria, whose ultimate source is Hebrew Miryam; proposed meanings include "beloved/wished-for child," "bitterness," and "rebellion," with strong Christian associations through the Virgin Mary. In Finnish, marja is also the everyday word for "berry," giving the name a fresh, nature-toned layer of meaning distinct from but reinforcing its charm.

Use rose sharply in Finland from the 1930s to the 1960s and was likewise fashionable in mid-century Dutch naming, while in Slavic contexts Marja often appears as a streamlined spelling of Marija. Well-known Finnish compound forms include Marja-Leena and Marja-Liisa. Close variants and cognates are Maria, Mary, Marie, Marija, Mariya, and Maija; related short forms include Marjo (Finnish), Marje and Marju (Estonian).

Marja has the following similar or variant Names

Marja – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Finland Girls 2026 #10 24,762 3,895
Finland Girls 0 #30 3,402 1,368
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
NL Girls 0 #60 5,324 5,933
LU 0 #65 2 2,830
SI 0 #78 3 1,612
Finland 0 #82 501 830
PH 0 #110 1 5,607
GR 0 #135 1 3,911
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
EE Girls 0 #139 4 1,888
SI Girls 0 #163 12 2,769
NL 0 #164 270 2,481
Sweden Girls 2019 #170 4 1,585
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
LU Girls 0 #185 6 4,850
LT Girls 0 #200 1 1,904
DK 0 #205 2 5,198
PL 0 #212 1 2,600
HU Girls 0 #225 1 3,308
AL Girls 0 #227 1 4,141
France Girls 1935 #232 4 828
NA Girls 0 #237 1 7,146
BD 0 #241 1 5,992
GR Girls 0 #247 3 6,293
PT 0 #250 1 4,161
EC Girls 0 #257 2 3,650
JM Girls 0 #276 3 7,507
HR Girls 0 #286 9 3,687
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
DK Girls 0 #306 11 7,429
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
JO Girls 0 #339 1 7,570
PL Girls 0 #344 11 5,096
CZ Girls 0 #350 2 5,378
BR 0 #360 1 5,969
MU Girls 0 #362 1 8,539
BD Girls 0 #405 2 8,413
Finland Boys 0 #418 10 2,041
OM Girls 0 #423 2 15,987
PH Girls 0 #429 1 13,098
MX 0 #445 1 8,339
PT Girls 0 #468 4 7,952
PA Girls 0 #469 13 9,861
ZA 0 #472 3 14,421
RU Girls 0 #487 12 11,913
CO 0 #510 1 7,768
IQ Girls 0 #525 1 11,303
UY Girls 0 #535 2 6,731
IR Girls 0 #541 5 8,334
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
CR Girls 0 #572 2 11,342
AE Girls 0 #593 5 20,968
BD Boys 0 #604 2 10,045
SG Girls 0 #632 1 18,916
IL Girls 0 #645 1 11,648
HK Girls 0 #650 1 16,104
IT 0 #705 10 4,183
Germany Girls 0 #801 38 4,949
KW Boys 0 #806 1 18,755
NG Girls 0 #824 3 15,093
TN 0 #861 5 13,765
CL Girls 0 #914 2 14,098
OM Boys 0 #918 1 17,948
BR Girls 0 #927 15 12,708
Spain Girls 0 #954 30 5,561
CO Boys 0 #980 2 15,656
NG Boys 0 #1,001 1 16,906
PE Girls 0 #1,004 7 14,861
EG Girls 0 #1,009 1 14,742
SA Girls 0 #1,014 1 25,931
MX Boys 0 #1,031 3 16,355
IN Boys 0 #1,039 1 16,750
CO Girls 0 #1,041 38 16,140
MY Girls 0 #1,072 1 24,821
ZA Girls 0 #1,117 25 25,928
AE Boys 0 #1,142 2 22,615
MX Girls 0 #1,172 12 17,781
MY Boys 0 #1,182 1 25,439
MA 0 #1,193 7 20,986
DZ 0 #1,231 4 20,130
TR 0 #1,252 3 19,440
IT Girls 0 #1,381 66 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,599 16 28,008

Marja is popular in 56 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Sweden
AE
AL
BD

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People also ask about Marja

Marja is predominantly a girl's name.
Marja is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /ˈmɑr.jɑ/ (common English approximation: "MAR-yah").
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Maria, Maarja, Marjaana, Marjo, Marje and Marj.
Yes, very popular — Marja ranked #10 in Finland in 2026, and appears in official birth registries across 3 countries.
Marja ranks highest in Finland (#10 in 2026).
Marja's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #246 in 1925 to #232 in 1935 in France.