Maria Name Meaning

Helen Doanna

By Helen Doanna

Lastest Updated June 7, 2024
Home » Baby Names » Maria Name Meaning

Fact: In literature, Maria is a frequently chosen name for protagonists, symbolizing purity and strong moral character.

Continue Reading…
A Deep Dive

Maria Overview

Meaning

Star of the sea, bitter, beloved, rebellious

Gender

Girl

Origin

Latin

Etymology

Derived from the Hebrew name Miriam.

Religion

Christianity

Pronunciation

/məˈriːə/

Popularity

Historically popular, especially among royalty. Ranked in the top 100 in several countries as of 2022.

Syllable

2 syllables

Length

5 letters

Numerology

6 (Nurturing, Responsible, Balanced)

Name Styles

Classic, Popular, Nature-inspired

Associated Traits

Compassionate, spiritual, graceful

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Strongly associated with the Virgin Mary in Christianity, symbolizing purity and devotion.
A Deep Dive

Maria Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

Mary, Marie, Mariana, Mariah, Mariam, Marissa, Marija, Mari, Maira, Marietta

Common Nicknames

Mari, Mary, Aria, Masha, Mimi

Diminutives

Mia, Ria, Ree, Mar, May

Famous People

  • Maria Sharapova
    (Russian Tennis Player)
  • Maria Callas
    (Greek-American Opera Singer)
  • Maria Montessori
    (Italian Educator)
  • Maria Menounos
    (American TV Host)
  • Maria Bello
    (American Actress)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

  • Maria
    ("West Side Story," Film)
  • Maria von Trapp
    ("The Sound of Music," Film)

Places

  • Maria Municipality
    (Quebec, Canada)
  • Santa Maria City
    (California, USA)

What Is the Meaning of Maria?

Maria is a multifaceted name with meanings including “star of the sea,” “bitter,” “beloved,” and “rebellious.”

What Is the Origin of The Name Maria?

Maria originates from Latin and is closely associated with the Hebrew name Miriam.

Historically, Maria was used in ancient Rome and was later Latinized from the Hebrew name to become more commonly used in Christian contexts.

It is related to Mary, mother of Jesus, and has been embraced across various cultures and languages due to its biblical significance​

Maria Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Maria in the U.S. over the Years

United States flagUnited States#1052021#912022#822023
Top 3 Rankings#301975#311973#311974

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Maria

YearName RankingNumber of BirthsBirth Rate (%)
202382
(+9 from 2022)
2893
(+50 from 2022)
0.16539
202291
(+14 from 2021)
2843
(+243 from 2021)
0.15855
2021105
(+4 from 2020)
2600
(+110 from 2020)
0.14512
2020109
(-4 from 2019)
2490
(-226 from 2019)
0.14086
2019105
(+10 from 2018)
2716
(+99 from 2018)
0.14802
2018115
(-4 from 2017)
2617
(-100 from 2017)
0.14073
2017111
(+2 from 2016)
2717
(-91 from 2016)
0.14382
2016113
(-4 from 2015)
2808
(-24 from 2015)
0.14505
2015109
(+5 from 2014)
2832
(+56 from 2014)
0.14517
2014114
(-3 from 2013)
2776
(-44 from 2013)
0.14190
2013111
(-10 from 2012)
2820
(-213 from 2012)
0.14629
2012101
(-9 from 2011)
3033
(-186 from 2011)
0.15638
201192
(-6 from 2010)
3219
(-200 from 2010)
0.16613
201086
(-16 from 2009)
3419
(-719 from 2009)
0.17438
200970
(-7 from 2008)
4138
(-452 from 2008)
0.20434
200863
(-10 from 2007)
4590
(-538 from 2007)
0.22037
200753
(-7 from 2006)
5128
(-474 from 2006)
0.24229
200646
No change from 2005
5602
(+2 from 2005)
0.26797
200546
(-4 from 2004)
5600
(-156 from 2004)
0.27592
200442
No change from 2003
5756
(-334 from 2003)
0.28526
200342
(-2 from 2002)
6090
(-296 from 2002)
0.30352
200240
(+1 from 2001)
6386
(-456 from 2001)
0.32334
200141
No change from 2000
6842
(-14 from 2000)
0.34539
200041
(-2 from 1999)
6856
(-177 from 1999)
0.34353
199939
(+4 from 1998)
7033
(+216 from 1998)
0.36126
199843
(-5 from 1997)
6817
(-496 from 1997)
0.35166
199738
(-1 from 1996)
7313
(-284 from 1996)
0.38303
199637
(+7 from 1995)
7597
(+596 from 1995)
0.39625
199544
(+3 from 1994)
7001
(+249 from 1994)
0.36434
199447
(-2 from 1993)
6752
(-224 from 1993)
0.34637
199345
No change from 1992
6976
(-114 from 1992)
0.35384
199245
No change from 1991
7090
(-46 from 1991)
0.35367
199145
(+2 from 1990)
7136
(-48 from 1990)
0.35094
199047
(+9 from 1989)
7184
(+841 from 1989)
0.34969
198956
(+4 from 1988)
6343
(+631 from 1988)
0.31839
198860
(-7 from 1987)
5712
(+36 from 1987)
0.29702
198753
(-4 from 1986)
5676
(-464 from 1986)
0.30285
198649
(+3 from 1985)
6140
(+127 from 1985)
0.33270
198552
(-2 from 1984)
6013
(-121 from 1984)
0.32568
198450
(-7 from 1983)
6134
(-714 from 1983)
0.34015
198343
(-1 from 1982)
6848
(-497 from 1982)
0.38264
198242
(-2 from 1981)
7345
(-337 from 1981)
0.40484
198140
(-4 from 1980)
7682
(-190 from 1980)
0.42952
198036
(+1 from 1979)
7872
(+537 from 1979)
0.44209
197937
(-1 from 1978)
7335
(+319 from 1978)
0.42564
197836
No change from 1977
7016
(-76 from 1977)
0.42679
197736
(-2 from 1976)
7092
(-261 from 1976)
0.43112
197634
(-4 from 1975)
7353
(-186 from 1975)
0.46778
197530
(+1 from 1974)
7539
(-263 from 1974)
0.48300
197431
No change from 1973
7802
(+137 from 1973)
0.49813
197331
(+1 from 1972)
7665
(-47 from 1972)
0.49321
197232
(+5 from 1971)
7712
(-425 from 1971)
0.47825
197137
(+2 from 1970)
8137
(-545 from 1970)
0.46428
197039
(+1 from 1969)
8682
(+282 from 1969)
0.47395
196940
(+1 from 1968)
8400
(+17 from 1968)
0.47653
196841
(+1 from 1967)
8383
(-494 from 1967)
0.49032
196742
(+2 from 1966)
8877
(-253 from 1966)
0.51706
196644
(+2 from 1965)
9130
(-349 from 1965)
0.52000
196546
(-5 from 1964)
9479
(-671 from 1964)
0.51870
196441
(+2 from 1963)
10150
(+308 from 1963)
0.51856
196343
(+6 from 1962)
9842
(+751 from 1962)
0.49505
196249
(+8 from 1961)
9091
(+1149 from 1961)
0.44852
196157
(+2 from 1960)
7942
(+406 from 1960)
0.38235
196059
(+3 from 1959)
7536
(+290 from 1959)
0.36235
195962
(+3 from 1958)
7246
(+348 from 1958)
0.34860
195865
(+6 from 1957)
6898
(+119 from 1957)
0.33392
195771
(+2 from 1956)
6779
(+48 from 1956)
0.32310
195673
(-4 from 1955)
6731
(+523 from 1955)
0.32682
195569
(-4 from 1954)
6208
(-381 from 1954)
0.30964
195465
(+3 from 1953)
6589
(+598 from 1953)
0.33097
195368
(+4 from 1952)
5991
(+295 from 1952)
0.31049
195272
(+3 from 1951)
5696
(+461 from 1951)
0.29948
195175
(-2 from 1950)
5235
(+158 from 1950)
0.28339
195073
(-1 from 1949)
5077
(-45 from 1949)
0.28871
194972
(+3 from 1948)
5122
(+306 from 1948)
0.29177
194875
(+4 from 1947)
4816
(+105 from 1947)
0.27636
194779
(+9 from 1946)
4711
(+751 from 1946)
0.25915
194688
(-2 from 1945)
3960
(+647 from 1945)
0.24552
194586
(-6 from 1944)
3313
(-48 from 1944)
0.24612
194480
(+23 from 1943)
3361
(+498 from 1943)
0.24595
1943103
(-6 from 1942)
2863
(+46 from 1942)
0.19946
194297
(+4 from 1941)
2817
(+347 from 1941)
0.20259
1941101
(+18 from 1940)
2470
(+335 from 1940)
0.19824
1940119
No change from 1939
2135
(+58 from 1939)
0.18073
1939119
(+3 from 1938)
2077
(+65 from 1938)
0.18315
1938122
No change from 1937
2012
(+59 from 1937)
0.17627
1937122
(-2 from 1936)
1953
(-27 from 1936)
0.17725
1936120
(-3 from 1935)
1980
(-14 from 1935)
0.18375
1935117
(-2 from 1934)
1994
(+4 from 1934)
0.18348
1934115
(+8 from 1933)
1990
(+129 from 1933)
0.18386
1933123
(-4 from 1932)
1861
(-184 from 1932)
0.17791
1932119
(-10 from 1931)
2045
(-140 from 1931)
0.18485
1931109
(-10 from 1930)
2185
(-355 from 1930)
0.19797
193099
(+1 from 1929)
2540
(+8 from 1929)
0.21775
1929100
(+5 from 1928)
2532
(-34 from 1928)
0.21874
1928105
(+2 from 1927)
2566
(-26 from 1927)
0.21463
1927107
(+8 from 1926)
2592
(+241 from 1926)
0.20963
1926115
No change from 1925
2351
(-9 from 1925)
0.19111
1925115
(+4 from 1924)
2360
(+69 from 1924)
0.18685
1924119
(+14 from 1923)
2291
(+291 from 1923)
0.17682
1923133
(-1 from 1922)
2000
(+71 from 1922)
0.15969
1922132
(-3 from 1921)
1929
(-99 from 1921)
0.15462
1921129
(+1 from 1920)
2028
(+93 from 1920)
0.15847
1920130
(+8 from 1919)
1935
(+257 from 1919)
0.15554
1919138
(+9 from 1918)
1678
(+134 from 1918)
0.14285
1918147
(-1 from 1917)
1544
(+103 from 1917)
0.12841
1917146
(+13 from 1916)
1441
(+180 from 1916)
0.12824
1916159
(-13 from 1915)
1261
(-25 from 1915)
0.11614
1915146
(-11 from 1914)
1286
(+169 from 1914)
0.12560
1914135
(-2 from 1913)
1117
(+208 from 1913)
0.14022
1913133
No change from 1912
909
(+81 from 1912)
0.13880
1912133
(-4 from 1911)
828
(+182 from 1911)
0.14112
1911129
(+3 from 1910)
646
(+25 from 1910)
0.14621
1910132
(-2 from 1909)
621
(+77 from 1909)
0.14802
1909130
(+12 from 1908)
544
(+64 from 1908)
0.14779
1908142
(-6 from 1907)
480
(-10 from 1907)
0.13539
1907136
(+17 from 1906)
490
(+102 from 1906)
0.14521
1906153
(-14 from 1905)
388
(-42 from 1905)
0.12379
1905139
(+4 from 1904)
430
(+37 from 1904)
0.13877
1904143
(+1 from 1903)
393
(+14 from 1903)
0.13439
1903144
(+12 from 1902)
379
(+48 from 1902)
0.13623
1902156
(-16 from 1901)
331
(-19 from 1901)
0.11808
1901140
(+9 from 1900)
350
(-39 from 1900)
0.13767
1900149
(+18 from 1899)
389
(+123 from 1899)
0.12243
1899167
(-12 from 1898)
266
(-63 from 1898)
0.10748
1898155
(-3 from 1897)
329
(+25 from 1897)
0.12001
1897152
(-1 from 1896)
304
(-8 from 1896)
0.12244
1896151
No change from 1895
312
(+17 from 1895)
0.12381
1895151
(-12 from 1894)
295
(-14 from 1894)
0.11938
1894139
(+16 from 1893)
309
(+54 from 1893)
0.13095
1893155
(-21 from 1892)
255
(-46 from 1892)
0.11322
1892134
(+8 from 1891)
301
(+53 from 1891)
0.13383
1891142
(-1 from 1890)
248
(+1 from 1890)
0.12617
1890141
(+2 from 1889)
247
(+9 from 1889)
0.12248
1889143
(-5 from 1888)
238
(-1 from 1888)
0.12578
1888138
(-5 from 1887)
239
(+36 from 1887)
0.12616
1887133
(+9 from 1886)
203
(+23 from 1886)
0.13061
1886142
(-4 from 1885)
180
(+5 from 1885)
0.11709
1885138
(-9 from 1884)
175
(-15 from 1884)
0.12329
1884129
(+8 from 1883)
190
(+49 from 1883)
0.13810
1883137
(+10 from 1882)
141
(+20 from 1882)
0.11744
1882147
(-15 from 1881)
121
(+1 from 1881)
0.10459
1881132
(-1 from 1880)
120
(-5 from 1880)
0.12139
1880131
First SSA data recorded
125
First SSA data recorded
0.12807

American States Popularity Rankings for Maria

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

Texas (TX)

Texas (TX) flagTexas (TX)#562021#452022#452023

California (CA)

California (CA) flagCalifornia (CA)#762021#742022#722023

New York (NY)

New York (NY) flagNew York (NY)#1232021#1042022#982023

Illinois (IL)

Illinois (IL) flagIllinois (IL)#1332021#1022022#842023

Pennsylvania (PA)

Pennsylvania (PA) flagPennsylvania (PA)#1202021#1322022#1052023

New Jersey (NJ)

New Jersey (NJ) flagNew Jersey (NJ)#872021#772022#912023

Florida (FL)

Florida (FL) flagFlorida (FL)#712021#752022#612023

Arizona (AZ)

Arizona (AZ) flagArizona (AZ)#502021#522022#422023

Ohio (OH)

Ohio (OH) flagOhio (OH)#1232021#1452022#1232023

Michigan (MI)

Michigan (MI) flagMichigan (MI)#1612021#1332022#1002023

Massachusetts (MA)

Massachusetts (MA) flagMassachusetts (MA)#802021#662022#922023

New Mexico (NM)

New Mexico (NM) flagNew Mexico (NM)#702021#872022#1352023

North Carolina (NC)

North Carolina (NC) flagNorth Carolina (NC)#1532021#1302022#1062023

Colorado (CO)

Colorado (CO) flagColorado (CO)#1462021#1652022#762023

Washington (WA)

Washington (WA) flagWashington (WA)#1482021#1102022#1142023

Georgia (GA)

Georgia (GA) flagGeorgia (GA)#1212021#1182022#1112023

Indiana (IN)

Indiana (IN) flagIndiana (IN)#1282021#972022#902023

Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut (CT) flagConnecticut (CT)#2042021#1092022#1322023

Virginia (VA)

Virginia (VA) flagVirginia (VA)#1552021#1162022#932023

Maryland (MD)

Maryland (MD) flagMaryland (MD)#1012021#1322022#962023

Minnesota (MN)

Minnesota (MN) flagMinnesota (MN)#1522021#1032022#2082023

Wisconsin (WI)

Wisconsin (WI) flagWisconsin (WI)#1662021#1872022#1572023

Missouri (MO)

Missouri (MO) flagMissouri (MO)#1632021#1942022#1252023

Oregon (OR)

Oregon (OR) flagOregon (OR)#1582021#1312022#2182023

Louisiana (LA)

Louisiana (LA) flagLouisiana (LA)#2262021#2042022#1622023

Tennessee (TN)

Tennessee (TN) flagTennessee (TN)#1122021#922022#1152023

Alabama (AL)

Alabama (AL) flagAlabama (AL)#872021#1042022#1002023

Kansas (KS)

Kansas (KS) flagKansas (KS)#1582021#812022#782023

South Carolina (SC)

South Carolina (SC) flagSouth Carolina (SC)#1432021#982022#692023

Kentucky (KY)

Kentucky (KY) flagKentucky (KY)#2282021#1502022#1362023

Oklahoma (OK)

Oklahoma (OK) flagOklahoma (OK)#1122021#1282022#1752023

District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia (DC) flagDistrict of Columbia (DC)#2572020#492021#962022

Iowa (IA)

Iowa (IA) flagIowa (IA)#1862021#1942022#1152023

Utah (UT)

Utah (UT) flagUtah (UT)#3422021#1872022#1692023

Rhode Island (RI)

Rhode Island (RI) flagRhode Island (RI)#1452019#1502021#1222023

Nevada (NV)

Nevada (NV) flagNevada (NV)#882021#1452022#1032023

Arkansas (AR)

Arkansas (AR) flagArkansas (AR)#2552021#2162022#4052023

Idaho (ID)

Idaho (ID) flagIdaho (ID)#3502021#1692022#3082023

Nebraska (NE)

Nebraska (NE) flagNebraska (NE)#742021#1062022#552023

Mississippi (MS)

Mississippi (MS) flagMississippi (MS)#2882021#2842022#2692023

West Virginia (WV)

West Virginia (WV) flagWest Virginia (WV)#2682017#2192022#2872023

Hawaii (HI)

Hawaii (HI) flagHawaii (HI)#2802015#1882018#1632021

Maine (ME)

Maine (ME) flagMaine (ME)#1602016#1532019#2372020

Delaware (DE)

Delaware (DE) flagDelaware (DE)#1262021#1382022#1952023

New Hampshire (NH)

New Hampshire (NH) flagNew Hampshire (NH)#1752021#2532022#1532023

Montana (MT)

Montana (MT) flagMontana (MT)#2342018#1822020#1782022

South Dakota (SD)

South Dakota (SD) flagSouth Dakota (SD)#1322018#732019#1282023

Alaska (AK)

Alaska (AK) flagAlaska (AK)#1372018#882021#892022

North Dakota (ND)

North Dakota (ND) flagNorth Dakota (ND)#1892019#772022#1812023

Vermont (VT)

Vermont (VT) flagVermont (VT)#442005#872006#1242007

Wyoming (WY)

Wyoming (WY) flagWyoming (WY)#342007#1252009#1122012

Popularity Rankings for Maria in other Countries and American Territories

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Rankings)

Popularity in Argentina

Argentina flagArgentina#1132013#1342014#12023

Popularity in Brazil

Brazil flagBrazil#11990 (Decade)#12000 (Decade)#12010 (Decade)

Popularity in Portugal

Portugal flagPortugal#12018#12019#12020

Popularity in Romania

Romania flagRomania#12021#12022#12023

Popularity in Russia (Moscow)

Russia (Moscow) flagRussia (Moscow)#22022#32023#32024

Popularity in Uruguay

Uruguay flagUruguay#22021#22022#32023

Popularity in Estonia

Estonia flagEstonia#52006-2010#22011-2015#52016-2020

Popularity in Bulgaria

Bulgaria flagBulgaria#22020#22021#22022

Popularity in Spain

Spain flagSpain#42020#42021#52022

Popularity in Catalonia, Spain

Catalonia, Spain flagCatalonia, Spain#102020#82021#132022

Popularity in Other American Territories

American Samoa flag American Samoa
Guam flag Guam
Northern Mariana Islands flag Northern Mariana Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands flag U.S. Virgin Islands

Other American Territories flagOther American Territories#242009#82013#182014

Popularity in Poland

Poland flagPoland#112021#112022#102023

Popularity in Galicia, Spain

Galicia, Spain flagGalicia, Spain#302020#372021#212022

Popularity in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan flagKazakhstan#262000#272001#232002

Popularity in Denmark

Denmark flagDenmark#372007#392008#482009

Popularity in Switzerland

Switzerland flagSwitzerland#382020#482021#462022

Popularity in Italy

Italy flagItaly#402020#412021#432022

Popularity in Mexico

Mexico flagMexico#512020#402021

Popularity in Germany

Germany flagGermany#412021#432022#482023

Popularity in Austria

Austria flagAustria#432020#562021#452022

Popularity in Ireland

Ireland flagIreland#752021#542022#732023

Popularity in Belgium

Belgium flagBelgium#642020#652021#542022

Popularity in Norway

Norway flagNorway#552021#592022#592023

Popularity in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico flagPuerto Rico#742021#592022#1142023

Popularity in France

France flagFrance#842020#772021#642022

Popularity in Australia (NSW)

Australia (NSW) flagAustralia (NSW)#691982#981983#951985

Popularity in England and Wales

England and Wales flagEngland and Wales#692019#702020#752021

Popularity in Sweden

Sweden flagSweden#772021#822022#992023

Popularity in Canada

Canada flagCanada#832021#802022#1492023

Popularity in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland flagNorthern Ireland#1312021#932022#1592023

Popularity in New Zealand

New Zealand flagNew Zealand#1012021#1402022#1602023

Popularity in Quebec, Canada

Quebec, Canada flagQuebec, Canada#1472020#1112021#1532022

Popularity in Scotland

Scotland flagScotland#1142021#1242022#1232023

Popularity in Iceland

Iceland flagIceland#2302021#1612022#1182023

Popularity in Chile

Chile flagChile#1652019#1412020#1492021

Popularity in Greenland

Greenland flagGreenland#1932017#1952018#1852019

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Maria a Name for Boys or Girls?

Maria is most commonly recognized as a female first name. It’s used in many cultures, especially within Christian communities.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Maria