Marja is a name of Slavic origin, particularly popular among Finns and Russians. Derived from the Latin 'Maria', which means 'sea' or 'dedicated to Mars', Marja was traditionally used as a variation of Mary in these cultures. It is often associated with warmth, approachability, and a gentle spirit.
The name Marja experienced fluctuations in popularity throughout the century. In its early years, it had a steady presence with around 5-7 births per year from 1921 to 1950. However, it began to gain significant traction in the late 1970s, with 27 births in 1977 and peaking at 45 births in 1978. This popularity continued into the early 1980s but declined thereafter, dropping to single digits by the mid-1980s. Despite this decline, Marja still remained somewhat popular, with occasional years of 6 or more births up until the late 1990s. Overall, there were a total of 437 births named Marja over the century.