Entry № 3593 · Latin origin

Maria Maria — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ mah-REE-ah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Latin
Meaning
"Beloved; bitter; longed-for child"
Syllables
3
Rank · US 2025
№ 132
First recorded
Ancient (Hebrew Bible)

A name that means "beloved; bitter; longed-for child".

Maria is the Latin form of Mary — from the Hebrew Miriam. The meaning is debated; possibilities include "beloved," "longed-for child," "bitter," or "princess of the sea." The name has been borne by the mother of Jesus and by sister of Moses, Miriam.

Maria is one of the most common girl names in the world, used across Christianity in Latin America, Spain, Italy, the Philippines, and Eastern Europe. In the U.S. it sits in the top 130 — still common, never quite at the top.

Beloved. The name of the most-named woman in history.

The name in its native script.

מִרְיָם
Transliteration
Miryam
Pronunciation
/ məˈriː.ə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Maria stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 132 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 39 in 1973
Babies named Maria · last year
2412 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
1880
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · №39 NOW · №132

Marias before her.

Real people
Maria Callas
American-Greek operatic soprano.
1923 – 1977
Maria Sharapova
Russian tennis player.
born 1987
In fiction
Maria
Heroine of The Sound of Music.
1965 film
Maria
Heroine of West Side Story.
1957 musical

Names connected to Maria.

The number behind Maria.

4

The Builder

Maria reduces to four — the number of devoted love.

Why families chose this name.

"Our family has had a Maria in every generation since my great-great-grandmother."
Sofia · Mother of one · Madrid