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Maria as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Maria

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The baby name Maria is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced English: /məˈriːə/; Spanish/Italian/Portuguese: /maˈɾi.a/.

Maria is Hebrew in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Hebrew
Pronunciation: English: /məˈriːə/; Spanish/Italian/Portuguese: /maˈɾi.a/

What is the meaning of the name Maria ?

The baby name Maria is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced English: /məˈriːə/; Spanish/Italian/Portuguese: /maˈɾi.a/.

Maria is Hebrew in Origin.

Maria is the Latin and widespread European form of the Greek Maria/Mariam, ultimately from Hebrew Miryam (Miriam). Its exact meaning is debated: proposals range from "beloved" or "wished-for child" to "bitter" or "rebellious"; medieval devotion also linked it to Stella Maris, yielding the poetic "star of the sea." In the New Testament, Maria is the Greek name of Mary, mother of Jesus, which anchored the name's prominence throughout Christian cultures.

Used since late antiquity across the Mediterranean, Maria remains perennial in Catholic and Orthodox regions and rose in English usage from the 18th century, while Mary long dominated. In Iberian tradition it also appears in masculine compounds (José María, João Maria). International variants include Mary (English), Marie (French), María (Spanish), Maria (Italian/Portuguese/German), Mariya/Marija (Slavic), Máire/Màiri (Irish/Scottish Gaelic), Maryam/Mariam (Arabic/Persian). Diminutives include Mia, Masha, Marita, Marika, Mariela, and Marietta.

Maria has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Maria

Maria Theresa of Austria Politician|royal · Born 1717 · Habsburg monarchy Maria Theresa of Austria was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She is most famous for her role in the War of the Austrian Succession and her efforts to modernize the empire's administration. Her reign marked a turning point in European history, and she was a key figure in the Enlightenment era. María Corina Machado Politician · Born 1967 · Venezuela María Corina Machado is a Venezuelan politician and activist best known as one of the most prominent opposition leaders against the governments of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro. She served in Venezuela’s National Assembly from 2011 to 2014 and has also run as a presidential candidate. Maria Zakharova Politician · Born 1975 · Russia Maria Zakharova is best known as the spokeswoman for Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Russian diplomat, she has served as the director of the ministry’s information and press department and has been its official spokeswoman since 2015.
Maria Elena Boschi Politician · Born 1981 · Italy Maria Elena Boschi is best known as an Italian politician and lawyer who has served in the Chamber of Deputies since 2013. Born on 24 January 1981, she is also known by the acronym MEB among her supporters and is Roman Catholic. Maria Leopoldina of Austria Royal · Born 1797 · Brazil Maria Leopoldina of Austria is best known as the first Empress of Brazil, serving as the wife of Emperor Dom Pedro I from 1822 until her death in 1826. She was also briefly Queen of Portugal in 1826 during her husband's short reign as King Pedro IV. Maria Christina of Austria Politician · Born 1858 · Spain Maria Christina of Austria is best known for serving as Queen of Spain and later as regent for her son, Alfonso XIII. She was the second wife of King Alfonso XII and governed during the transition after his death in 1885 until Alfonso XIII came of age in 1902.

Celebrity babies named Maria

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Maria Riva Marlene Dietrich television actor ★★★★★ Rudolf Sieber film producer ★★★★★
Maria von Rosen Ingmar Bergman film director ★★★★★
Maria Burton Elizabeth Taylor television actor ★★★★★ Richard Burton film director ★★★★★
Maria Cooper Janis Gary Cooper television actor ★★★★★
Maria Ekman Eyvind Johnson film director ★★★★★
Maria Romana Catti de Gasperi Alcide De Gasperi journalist ★★★★★
Maria Anna Mozart Leopold Mozart musician ★★★★★
Maria Konchalovskaya Julia Vysotskaya television presenter ★★★★★ Andrei Konchalovsky film director ★★★★★
Maria Anna Mahler Alma Mahler model ★★★★★
Maria O'Brien Edmond O'Brien film director ★★★★★
Maria Rita Elis Regina singer ★★★★★ Cesar Camargo Mariano record producer ★★★★★
Maria Leopoldina of Austria Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily singer ★★★★★

Maria – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
Germany Girls 2025 #1 — 411
AO Girls 0 #1 2,348 4,575
AO 0 #1 218 2,729
AR Girls 0 #1 20,758 8,289
BG Girls 0 #1 1,961 3,559
BO Girls 0 #1 16,691 9,488
BR Girls 0 #1 121,170 12,708
BR 0 #1 2,545 5,969
CL Girls 0 #1 65,085 14,098
CO Girls 0 #1 157,234 16,140
CR Girls 0 #1 11,002 11,342
CY 0 #1 365 1,632
CY Girls 0 #1 2,483 3,755
EC Girls 0 #1 2,382 3,650
Spain Girls 0 #1 129,661 5,561
Spain 0 #1 6,485 2,326
GR Girls 0 #1 8,224 6,293
GR 0 #1 1,210 3,911
GT Girls 0 #1 7,173 7,500
HN Girls 0 #1 91 884
IT Girls 0 #1 360,527 9,415
LB Girls 0 #1 1 1
LU Girls 0 #1 1,018 4,850
MT Girls 0 #1 986 3,773
MT 0 #1 82 1,767
MX Girls 0 #1 76,883 17,781
NA Girls 0 #1 2,116 7,146
PA Girls 0 #1 12,249 9,861
PE Girls 0 #1 54,783 14,861
SV Girls 0 #1 28 458
UY Girls 0 #1 17,903 6,731
AR 0 #2 629 2,915
Austria Girls 0 #2 6,950 1,885
DK Girls 0 #2 2,934 7,429
MD Girls 0 #2 501 865
MD 0 #2 60 434
MU Girls 0 #2 9,102 8,539
NA 0 #2 41 2,537
PR Girls 0 #2 1,625 3,171
PT Girls 0 #2 39,014 7,952
UY 0 #2 509 2,477
CO 0 #3 9,214 7,768
EE 0 #3 45 1,051
HN 0 #3 23 704
ID Girls 0 #3 201 3,319
PH Girls 0 #3 1,524 13,098
BG 0 #4 191 1,799
EC 0 #4 411 2,502
PR 0 #4 121 1,497
SV 0 #4 8 283
BO 0 #5 2,265 6,868
FJ Girls 0 #5 5 583
GT 0 #5 1,554 5,948
MU 0 #5 578 3,613
PT 0 #5 2,507 4,161
ZA Girls 0 #5 17,019 25,928
CL 0 #6 3,693 6,867
EE Girls 0 #6 482 1,888
FJ 0 #6 1 374
PE 0 #6 1,063 6,350
PA 0 #7 317 3,797
CR 0 #8 302 5,526
KH Boys 0 #9 1 270
PH 0 #9 108 5,607
RU Girls 0 #9 19,767 11,913
RU 0 #9 1,018 3,641
LU 0 #10 64 2,830
DK 0 #11 666 5,198
QA Girls 0 #12 828 15,378
AE Girls 0 #13 2,232 20,968
IT 0 #13 13,779 4,183
KR Girls 0 #13 3 572
OM Girls 0 #13 1,340 15,987
BF Girls 0 #14 4 315
NL Girls 2014 #16 202 73
ET Girls 0 #16 1 372
ID 0 #16 24 2,238
DJ 0 #17 1 322
BN Girls 0 #18 112 5,459
BW 0 #18 2 960
Germany Girls 0 #18 14,788 4,949
JP Girls 0 #19 554 6,592
PL Girls 0 #19 17,803 5,096
Finland Girls 2026 #20 20,033 3,895
QA 0 #20 99 7,011
MX 0 #21 1,549 8,339
BN 0 #22 10 2,297
Finland Girls 0 #23 4,059 1,368
HT Girls 0 #23 1 950
Iceland Girls 0 #23 51 132
KW Girls 0 #23 1,568 19,177
Finland 0 #24 1,024 830
Austria 0 #25 413 850
Iceland 0 #25 11 71
NL Girls 0 #25 7,919 5,933
BF Boys 0 #26 1 439
MV Girls 0 #26 10 2,021
MO 0 #27 26 2,706
TM Girls 0 #27 9 574
DJ Girls 0 #28 2 488
PS Girls 0 #28 1,809 10,981
SV Boys 0 #28 1 352
Switzerland Girls 2024 #31 144 1,786
BD Girls 0 #32 972 8,413
AE 0 #33 179 10,220
BI Girls 0 #33 1 726
JP 0 #33 46 4,057
MY Girls 0 #35 5,243 24,821
GE 0 #36 9 997
KZ 0 #40 56 1,452
IT Girls 2023 #43 803 47
AL Girls 0 #43 340 4,141
AZ 0 #43 1 706
BI Boys 0 #44 1 917
BW Girls 0 #45 116 4,216
Germany 0 #45 1,106 2,542
OM 0 #46 80 6,215
SA Girls 0 #47 4,237 25,931
Norway Girls 2025 #48 103 453
LB 0 #48 2,852 13,263
Austria Girls 2024 #49 162 60
IL Girls 0 #49 2,250 11,648
HN Boys 0 #51 2 749
AF Girls 0 #52 43 2,402
AL 0 #53 23 2,372
CM 0 #53 4 2,592
GE Girls 0 #53 63 1,564
KW 0 #56 61 5,216
HU Girls 0 #57 450 3,308
PL 0 #57 530 2,600
MO Girls 0 #58 276 7,056
KZ Girls 0 #60 731 5,862
Belgium Girls 2024 #61 141 424
New Zealand Girls 2009 #62 45 96
CN 0 #63 23 3,857
NL 0 #66 530 2,481
JM 0 #67 21 3,714
IN 0 #68 4 2,963
France Girls 2021 #70 765 3,185
Canada Girls 2024 #70 334 2,795
AF 0 #71 6 1,883
AZ Girls 0 #72 4 1,051
United States Girls 2024 #74 3,105 8,487
Sweden Girls 2022 #75 136 1,568
SG Girls 0 #75 1,355 18,916
MD Boys 0 #76 6 756
HU 0 #78 39 1,675
MV Boys 0 #78 2 3,375
SI 0 #79 2 1,612
LT 0 #80 9 949
RS 0 #80 5 923
TW 0 #84 17 4,523
SD Girls 0 #87 581 7,678
DZ 0 #88 9,934 20,130
SD 0 #90 11 2,130
RS Girls 0 #94 44 1,651
CZ Girls 0 #97 663 5,378
ZA 0 #100 455 14,421
NG Girls 0 #101 3,415 15,093
BD 0 #103 137 5,992
GE Boys 0 #108 3 2,055
HR Girls 0 #110 342 3,687
JO Girls 0 #110 540 7,570
IQ 0 #112 18 3,533
IQ Girls 0 #113 768 11,303
SY 0 #114 2,337 11,684
TW Girls 0 #115 185 8,139
CY Boys 0 #117 13 3,473
IR Girls 0 #119 958 8,334
JO 0 #122 16 2,158
EE Boys 0 #123 3 2,087
PS 0 #123 98 5,692
EG Girls 0 #124 5,905 14,742
JM Girls 0 #125 161 7,507
SA 0 #127 184 10,560
HR 0 #128 52 2,081
CN Girls 0 #129 323 8,829
BN Boys 0 #133 7 6,332
ID Boys 0 #133 3 4,130
BH 0 #137 638 17,937
HK Girls 0 #137 1,160 16,104
SI Girls 0 #137 38 2,769
CZ 0 #139 48 3,154
IL 0 #139 159 6,291
SG 0 #141 135 11,010
PT Boys 0 #149 367 7,951
MA 0 #150 10,711 20,986
MY 0 #150 196 12,352
YE 0 #152 338 8,639
BW Boys 0 #153 2 4,685
RS Boys 0 #153 2 2,277
PR Boys 0 #155 20 2,508
LT Girls 0 #156 39 1,904
IR 0 #166 68 4,221
BR Boys 0 #170 2,224 12,213
MT Boys 0 #172 8 4,064
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
NA Boys 0 #175 61 6,830
EC Boys 0 #183 57 3,322
AO Boys 0 #185 58 5,568
EG 0 #195 300 6,387
NG 0 #204 61 5,926
LU Boys 0 #206 13 4,970
BG Boys 0 #207 13 3,850
France Boys 1914 #208 3 578
GR Boys 0 #208 60 6,912
GH Girls 0 #209 130 6,973
SI Boys 0 #210 2 3,402
CO Boys 0 #220 2,629 15,656
GH 0 #221 23 5,396
UY Boys 0 #223 250 5,922
LY 0 #225 409 12,703
MO Boys 0 #226 9 5,842
HK 0 #227 130 8,483
AR Boys 0 #247 345 7,628
TW Boys 0 #253 4 7,111
HR Boys 0 #254 6 3,997
PL Boys 0 #255 82 6,459
CM Girls 0 #260 347 11,671
AL Boys 0 #267 32 5,122
MU Boys 0 #270 88 8,477
AF Boys 0 #271 4 3,535
TN 0 #273 1,359 13,765
PA Boys 0 #282 237 9,305
Spain Boys 0 #286 1,413 5,610
KZ Boys 0 #288 9 6,578
CL Boys 0 #289 769 13,390
JM Boys 0 #291 3 6,876
GT Boys 0 #294 192 7,625
JP Boys 0 #295 9 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #300 6 6,530
DK Boys 0 #325 8 7,401
PH Boys 0 #325 59 11,440
CN Boys 0 #328 4 9,639
CR Boys 0 #331 168 10,188
BO Boys 0 #333 332 9,244
MX Boys 0 #337 1,392 16,355
JO Boys 0 #352 26 7,057
GH Boys 0 #357 5 8,138
IT Boys 0 #360 3,083 10,046
RU Boys 0 #368 140 12,621
PE Boys 0 #375 941 14,506
Austria Boys 0 #400 43 2,180
Finland Boys 0 #414 14 2,041
IN Girls 0 #420 219 13,121
SD Boys 0 #423 23 10,523
HK Boys 0 #494 34 12,905
BD Boys 0 #520 57 10,045
PS Boys 0 #522 27 10,655
CM Boys 0 #523 28 12,054
IR Boys 0 #534 19 10,162
TR 0 #557 1,538 19,440
KW Boys 0 #565 207 18,755
IL Boys 0 #580 28 10,983
OM Boys 0 #590 304 17,948
IQ Boys 0 #593 75 13,071
QA Boys 0 #610 98 18,093
SG Boys 0 #626 72 17,960
ZA Boys 0 #700 548 25,619
EG Boys 0 #722 165 15,035
Germany Boys 0 #840 113 5,697
NL Boys 0 #859 93 5,873
NG Boys 0 #870 82 16,906
United States Boys 2024 #885 8 7,044
MY Boys 0 #898 215 25,439
AE Boys 0 #928 165 22,615
IN Boys 0 #939 63 16,750
SA Boys 0 #1,187 443 28,008

Maria is popular in 104 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Norway
NL
Ireland
Scotland, United Kingdom

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Maria

Maria is predominantly a girl's name.
Maria is a 3 syllable name, pronounced English: /məˈriːə/; Spanish/Italian/Portuguese: /maˈɾi.a/.
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Mary, Marie, María, Mariam, Mariya and Mariah.
Across languages, Maria has these equivalents: {'Hebrew': 'Miriam (מִרְיָם), 'Arabic': 'Maryam (مريم / مَرْيَم), 'Russian': 'Maria (Мария).
Yes, very popular — Maria ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 15 countries.
Maria ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Maria's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 21 notable people named Maria are in our database, including Maria Theresa of Austria (Politician|royal), María Corina Machado (Politician), Maria Zakharova (Politician).
Yes — at least 12 celebrity couples have chosen Maria for their child, including Marlene Dietrich and Rudolf Sieber.