MarjaLiisa

MarjaLiisa is a feminine given name used in Finland. It is typically a compound of Marja, the Finnish form of Maria, and Liisa, the Finnish form of Elizabeth. The combination reflects a common Finnish naming practice of creating given names by pairing two traditional names. The name appears in several spellings, including Marja-Liisa (the standard hyphenated form in Finnish records), Marjaliisa, and the unhyphenated MarjaLiisa.

Usage and distribution: The hyphenated form Marja-Liisa was especially popular in the mid-20th century, reflecting broader Finnish naming trends of that period. Today, compound names of this type are less common for newborns, though older generations may still bear the name. It is predominantly used among Finnish speakers and is relatively rare outside Finland, though individuals of Finnish heritage may carry the name abroad.

Cultural context: As a traditional Finnish composite name, MarjaLiisa embodies the linguistic practice of combining two established given names to create a distinctive feminine identity. Variants and hyphenation practices can vary by family or registry, but all reflect the same root names.

See also: Marja, Liisa, Maria, Finnish given names, compound given names.