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Mariposa as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Mariposa

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The baby name Mariposa is a Female name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced Spanish: /ma.ɾiˈposa/ (ma-ree-POH-sa); English: /ˌmærɪˈpoʊsə/ (MAR-i-POH-sə).

Mariposa is Spanish in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 4.0
Origin: Spanish
Pronunciation: Spanish: /ma.ɾiˈposa/ (ma-ree-POH-sa); English: /ˌmærɪˈpoʊsə/ (MAR-i-POH-sə)

What is the meaning of the name Mariposa ?

The baby name Mariposa is a Female name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced Spanish: /ma.ɾiˈposa/ (ma-ree-POH-sa); English: /ˌmærɪˈpoʊsə/ (MAR-i-POH-sə).

Mariposa is Spanish in Origin.

Mariposa is a Spanish word-name meaning “butterfly,” evoking metamorphosis, grace, and freedom. The Spanish term likely derives from a children’s refrain - María + posar (“to alight”) - roughly “Mary, alight,” once addressed to butterflies; thus the given name blends lyrical imagery with a faint devotional echo while remaining secular in modern use.

As a personal name, Mariposa has been rare but attested in Spanish-speaking communities and the American West since the late 19th century, sharing visibility with California’s Mariposa place names. It has seen modest contemporary revival alongside other nature and word names, helped by occasional appearances in children’s media. Flexible nicknames and variants include Mari, Posa, Posy/Posie in English, the affectionate Spanish Mariposita, and sometimes Mapi. With its vivid sound and symbolic depth, Mariposa suits parents seeking an uncommon, cross-cultural choice rooted in the Romance languages.

Mariposa has the following similar or variant Names

Mariposa – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
HT 0 #12 1 399
HT Girls 0 #23 1 950
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
HN Girls 0 #38 1 884
JP 0 #77 1 4,057
PH 0 #110 1 5,607
PA 0 #137 2 3,797
CR 0 #165 1 5,526
PR Girls 0 #167 1 3,171
AE 0 #186 2 10,220
LU Girls 0 #190 1 4,850
HU Girls 0 #224 2 3,308
BG Girls 0 #230 2 3,559
JP Girls 0 #251 1 6,592
EC Girls 0 #255 4 3,650
JM Girls 0 #277 2 7,507
HR Girls 0 #294 1 3,687
JP Boys 0 #303 1 7,909
GT 0 #305 10 5,948
GH Girls 0 #337 1 6,973
JO Girls 0 #338 2 7,570
QA Girls 0 #340 4 15,378
HK 0 #357 1 8,483
CN Girls 0 #359 1 8,829
MU Girls 0 #362 1 8,539
MX 0 #398 16 8,339
BO 0 #402 7 6,868
UY Boys 0 #413 1 5,922
OM Girls 0 #421 4 15,987
PH Girls 0 #423 7 13,098
CL 0 #430 5 6,867
PA Girls 0 #441 41 9,861
GT Girls 0 #451 55 7,500
CO 0 #469 12 7,768
PT Girls 0 #471 1 7,952
AR Boys 0 #479 5 7,628
GT Boys 0 #498 2 7,625
UY Girls 0 #498 13 6,731
KW Girls 0 #503 13 19,177
PA Boys 0 #505 1 9,305
CR Girls 0 #516 17 11,342
IQ Girls 0 #523 3 11,303
RU Girls 0 #523 1 11,913
IR Girls 0 #545 1 8,334
AR Girls 0 #556 44 8,289
HK Boys 0 #557 1 12,905
BH 0 #584 4 17,937
AE Girls 0 #594 4 20,968
BO Girls 0 #601 11 9,488
BO Boys 0 #620 3 9,244
MX Girls 0 #624 772 17,781
SG Girls 0 #631 2 18,916
IL Girls 0 #644 2 11,648
HK Girls 0 #649 2 16,104
LB 0 #690 1 13,263
IQ Boys 0 #697 1 13,071
CL Boys 0 #700 1 13,390
CL Girls 0 #735 117 14,098
TN 0 #801 29 13,765
NG Girls 0 #824 3 15,093
CO Girls 0 #854 229 16,140
Spain Girls 0 #867 117 5,561
PE Girls 0 #880 64 14,861
United States Girls 2024 #889 28 8,487
CO Boys 0 #906 15 15,656
SA Girls 0 #914 22 25,931
MA 0 #924 205 20,986
PE Boys 0 #924 3 14,506
NL Girls 0 #940 16 5,933
MX Boys 0 #957 26 16,355
BR Girls 0 #991 2 12,708
EG Girls 0 #1,008 2 14,742
DZ 0 #1,035 142 20,130
MY Girls 0 #1,068 5 24,821
TR 0 #1,248 7 19,440
IT Girls 0 #1,375 72 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,689 3 28,008

Mariposa is popular in 53 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
AE
AR
BG
BH

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People also ask about Mariposa

Mariposa is predominantly a girl's name.
Mariposa is a 4 syllable name, pronounced Spanish: /ma.ɾiˈposa/ (ma-ree-POH-sa); English: /ˌmærɪˈpoʊsə/ (MAR-i-POH-sə).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Mariposita (diminutive), Mari (nickname), Posa (nickname) and Maripose (anglicized).
Across languages, Mariposa has these equivalents: Psyche (Greek; mythological name linked to butterflies), Vanessa (English; butterfly genus associated with the insect), Pulelehua (Hawaiian; 'butterfly'), Farfalla (Italian word for 'butterfly', rare as a given name), Papillon (French word for 'butterfly', rare as a given name).
Somewhat — Mariposa ranked #889 in United States in 2024, placing it just outside the most common names.
Mariposa's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #921 in 2014 to #889 in 2024 in United States.