Mariama J. Lockington: Hi, my name is Mariama J. Lockington. Ma as in Mario, ee-ama as in lama, Mariama. My first name is an Ethiopian name and a form of Mary. In the 1980s, my mom read my name in a newspaper article and liked it so much. She decided to give me the name. People often mistake my first name for Mariana, Miriam, or Maryama, but again, it is Ma Ree Ahma. I love my first name and I love when people take the time to get it right.