Myra

Myra is associated with the English poet Fulke Greville, who used it in his love poetry. The reason he chose this particular form is uncertain. Proposed explanations include an anagram of Mary and a connection with myrrh, the aromatic resin. Neither theory establishes “sweet-smelling oil” as a definite translation of the name.

Its later life extends well beyond that poetic beginning. The pianist Dame Myra Hess is a notable bearer, and characters called Myra appear in novels including Babbitt and An American Tragedy. Myra therefore has a substantial literary and musical history despite its compact four-letter form. Mayra is a related spelling, while similar-looking Mira can have independent origins and should not automatically receive the same explanation.