by Monster

Created on: January 16, 2008

ETYMOLOGY:

MIA Besides being the literal Italian translation from the word "My", it is Latin for "Mine". Some people take it to the level of "Mine to hold dear".

ORIGIN & HISTORY:

An absolutely darling name Mia is feminine pronounced MEE-AH. It's origins are of Israeli, Scandinavian, Italian and Latin origins. In Israel, Mia is the abbreviation of Michal, and in Italian, Latin, and Scandinavian countries, it is the abbreviation for Maria.

It is not known where the name was first used but it is know to be biblical.

POPULARITY:

It gained much popularity in the 1960's, and continues to gain popularity now well into the millennium. This could definitely be due to the fact that Mia Farrow, a talented actress at the time, was becoming very popular.

FASCINATING FACTS:

Used in the phrase "Mamma Mia", meaning "My Mother" in Italian, this phrase has been extensively used in Italian Stereotypes, in the name of an ABBA song, as the name of a popular play, and even in the days of the Nintendo NES Game of "Super Mario".

Mia is the name of a game involving dice. It is also a popular choice for fictional characters in online games, books, and video games.

NAMESAKES:

"Monkey Mia" is the name of a popular tourist resort in Western Australia.
"Mia Station" is the name of a subway station on the Korean Railway.
"Mia" is also a fictional villain in the Stephen King novel series, "The Dark Tower".

FAMOUS PERSONS:

"Mia Farrow" American Actress, born February 9, 1945
"Mia Sara" American Actress, born June 19, 1967
"Mia Aegerter" Actress & Swiss pop singer, born October 9, 1976
"Mia Hamm" American soccer player, born March 17, 1972
"Mia Kirshner" Canadian Actress, born January 25, 1975

NAME VARIANTS:

Mia can be short for, or a nickname for Maria, Myriam, and Mariel.

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