Mariska Hargitay, the actress many know from “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” recently shared that her name is often mispronounced. She revealed the correct way to say her first name is “Muh-rish-kuh.”
During a chat on Amy Poehler’s podcast, Hargitay explained that “Mariska” is a nickname meaning “Little Maria” in Hungarian. The “ka” or “ke” at the end is a term of endearment, and the name honors her grandmothers, who were both named Maria.
Even after 26 years on “Law & Order: SVU,” the actress says people still get her name wrong. She shared a story about her cousin, who she has known for years, calling her “Muh-ris-kuh” at a family brunch.
To help people on set, Hargitay has her name written as “Marishhhhka.” She says she’s been called many variations of her name, including “Muh-ritz-uh,” “Mar-see-kuh,” and “Mar-kis-kuh.”
Hargitay joins other public figures who have spoken up about their names being mispronounced. It seems everyone wants to be called by their correct name.
