US Popularity Rank: 15799

Origin: Polish

Meaning: small pearls

Marjan is a feminine Polish name not easily confined to neat categories. Considered a variation of Marianne, Marjan is rooted in the Hebrew Miriam, or Mīrəyām, often translated as "drop of the sea." Yet Miriam's etymology is just as complex thanks to the precarious origin of the root mr, meaning Marjan can also add "rebellious" and "beloved" to its list of attributes. Others posit an Iranian origin, likening Marjan to margān, meaning "pearl-like." If suggestions of purity and deep inner wisdom aren't enough, Marjan may stake a claim on the Roman family name Marius, so often tied to none other than the ancient god of war Mars.