Maria
Maria is a girls' name of Hebrew origin meaning “beloved, wished-for child, sea of bitterness.” It ranked #87 in the United States in 2025. The Latin and Romance language form of Miriam/Mary, one of the most globally used given names throughout history.
how do you pronounce Maria?
mah-REE-uh
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Maria mean?
The name Maria means “beloved, wished-for child, sea of bitterness.” It comes from the Hebrew language tradition.
The Latin and Romance language form of Miriam/Mary, one of the most globally used given names throughout history. Venerated across Christianity, Islam (as Maryam), and many other traditions, it remains a timeless name worldwide.
where does the name Maria come from?
From the Latin Maria, from the Greek Maria and Mariam, which render the Aramaic Maryam and correspond to the Hebrew Miryam — the name English also receives as Mary and Miriam. The meaning of the original Hebrew is not established, and the several glosses offered for it are conjectural.
the history of Maria
Wikipedia notes the name is given across many languages influenced by Christianity, which makes it one of the most widely used feminine names in the world. It is venerated in Islam as well, where Maryam is the mother of Isa and the only woman named in the Quran.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #87 |
| 2024 | #74 |
| 2023 | #82 |
| 2022 | #91 |
| 2021 | #105 |
| 2020 | #109 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Maria?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Maria?
- Maria Callas (opera singer)
- Maria Montessori (educator)
- Maria von Trapp (The Sound of Music)
- Maria Sharapova (tennis player)
what names are similar to Maria?
what names go well with Maria?
Sibling names that share Maria's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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