Contribute your knowledge to the name Marika

Comments and insights on the name Marika: | Edit

A variant of Maria with a "slavic" feel due to the diminutive -ka ending. Very popular in the 1970's in at least Sweden (alternate spelling: Marica) and Finland. Used also at least in Germany and Hungary.

Personal experiences with the name Marika: | Edit

My name is Marijka, and I was named after a Dutch woman my dad met at the World's Fair in Brussels, Belgium, in 1958. He was a soldier stationed in Germany. When he met my mom a few years later and they had me, he remembered the name and, luckily, she liked it - in spite of it being another woman's name! Hard growing up with it in the 60s & 70s when everyone was a Lynn or Susan, but as an adult I'm grateful to be unique.

Nicknames for Marika: | Edit

Mari, Mika, Reka, Riki, Rik

Meanings and history of the name Marika: | Edit

Marika is of Danish origin, a diminutive of Mary meaning "star of the sea". The name also has roots in Hungary, as a nickname for Maria.

Famous real-life people named Marika: | Edit

Marika Cobbold, novelist
Marika Kotopouli, a Greek actress
Marika Krevata, a Greek actress
Marika Michałowska, a Polish DJ
Marika Nezer, a Greek actress
Marika Ninou, a Greek rembetiko singer
Marika Papagika, a Greek singer
Marika Gombitová, a Slovak pop singer
Marika Lendl, a daughter of Czech tennis player Ivan Lendl
Marijka Walker, national sewing instructor, artist, author
Princess Marijke of the Netherlands (although she now uses Christina)
Marijke Engelen, synchronized swimmer on Netherlands' 1984 Olympic Team

Marika in song, story & screen: | Edit

"Marika" - novel by Andrea Cheng
"Marieke" - song made popular by Judy Collins