Folk etymology
The further derivation of the name is debated. Folk etymology traces it to "amari" ("pleasing; beautiful; gracious") or "mehare" ("gracious"). Another folk etymology claims that it derives from Ge'ez ("ʿam", "people") and ("h.ara", "free" or "soldier") although this has been dismissed by Donald Levine. Getachew Mekonnen Hasen traces it to an ethnic name related to the Himyarites of ancient Yemen.