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.

My name is Marika. I was going to be Domenica, the female version of my dad's name, Domenico. However, when that name was shut down immediatly by all my family members, my mom was reading a magazine where she found the name Marika from a Dutch Model/Actress. She liked it and called me Marika. Later on in life I came accross that name twice. Once was when I was child, I got lost in a shop and as my mom called my name, a woman turned to her and said "yes?". She found me and the woman told my mom that she owned a jewelry shop called "Marika's". Afterwards, my mom bought jewelry there. The second time was when I was at an International Camp for a week with the Girl Guides/Girl Scouts, I met a girl called Marika who was American. While we were canoeing (I was paired with the teacher.) the teacher called out "Marika, you're holding the paddle wrong." I turned to her and asked "Am I doing it wrong?" and she said "No, you're doing a great job. I meant the other Marika." First time and probably last time someone said "The Other Marika.". It's such a weird feeling being called "The Other Marika." and I feel for the people with super common names where they are constantly being called "The Other......" on a daily basis. I still love my name and I love the wide reach around the globe it has.

Nicknames for Marika: | Edit

Mari, Mika, Reka, Riki, Rik, Miki,

Meanings and history of the name Marika: | Edit

It is a New Zealand name meaning quiet and careful, it is a very popular name in its country and is believed it is the best and most beautiful name in the world. I know this an I have been blessed with the name myself, I'm very famous in my country and my name is......

I have found in Hebrew it means Bitter, while in Japanese it means Jasmine or Jasmine tree. It has a wide range of meanings, spellings and pronounciations thoughout the world which is what I really like about the name. I could say my name is Marika in Italy and they would say Mah-R/Lee-Kah even though I pronounce it Mer-Ee-Ka. It's a great name, in my opinion.

Famous real-life people named Marika: | Edit

Marika Hook, a school girl
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