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Maurice as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Maurice

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The baby name Maurice is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced mə-REES (məˈriːs) — common English (US),MOR-iss (ˈmɒrɪs / ˈmɔːrɪs) — alternative English,French: mo-REES (mɔʁis).

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Pronunciation: mə-REES (məˈriːs) — common English (US),MOR-iss (ˈmɒrɪs / ˈmɔːrɪs) — alternative English,French: mo-REES (mɔʁis)

What is the meaning of the name Maurice ?

The baby name Maurice is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced mə-REES (məˈriːs) — common English (US),MOR-iss (ˈmɒrɪs / ˈmɔːrɪs) — alternative English,French: mo-REES (mɔʁis).

Maurice is in Origin.

Maurice derives from the Latin Mauritius, a derivative of Maurus, meaning “Moorish,” “dark-skinned,” or “man from Mauretania.” The name traveled through the late Roman world and gained wide currency via Saint Maurice, the third‑century commander of the Theban Legion, whose cult flourished across the Holy Roman Empire and France. Norman transmission brought Maurice to medieval England; it persisted in clerical and aristocratic circles and later entered common use. English pronunciations vary (MAW-ris or maw-REES), while French remains moh-REES.

International variants include Moritz (German), Maurits (Dutch), Maurizio (Italian), Mauricio (Spanish/Portuguese), Maurycy (Polish), Maurici (Catalan), and Romanian Mauriciu; related forms are Morris and the feminine Maura, Mauricia, and Maurine. Nicknames range from Mo and Maury to French Momo. Usage peaked in English-speaking countries in the early 20th century, then declined, while French Maurice became a mid‑century staple; Mauricio remains robust in Latin America. The meaning evokes North African origin and dark complexion.

Maurice has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Maurice

Maurice Politician · Born 539 · Byzantine Empire Maurice was a Byzantine Emperor who ruled from 582 to 602. He is most famous for his military campaigns against the Sassanian Empire and his efforts to stabilize the empire's finances. His reign ended abruptly when he was overthrown and executed during a military revolt. Maurice Druon Politician · Born 1918 · France Maurice Druon was a French politician and author, best known for his series of historical novels, 'The Accursed Kings'. Born in 1918, he also served as a member of the Académie Française and was France's Minister of Cultural Affairs. Maurice Barrès Politician · Born 1862 · France Maurice Barrès was a French writer and politician best known for his nationalist influence in French literature and politics. He became famous with his 1888 book The Cult of the Self, and he also wrote works like Les Déracinés and Colette Baudoche.
Maurice of Nassau Politician · Born 1567 · Dutch Republic Maurice of Nassau was a key figure in the Dutch Republic, known for his role as a military leader during the Eighty Years' War against Spain. He played a crucial part in the development of modern military strategy and tactics. Born in 1567, he became the Prince of Orange and was instrumental in the independence of the Dutch Republic. Maurice de Saxe Politician · Born 1696 · France Maurice de Saxe was a famous 18th-century soldier and military commander, best known for his success as a French general and as a military theorist. Born the illegitimate son of Augustus II the Strong, he first served in the armies of the Holy Roman Empire before going on to build his reputation in French service. Maurice Thorez Politician · Born 1900 · France Maurice Thorez was a French politician best known as the longtime leader of the French Communist Party (PCF), serving from 1930 until his death in 1964. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister of France from 1946 to 1947.

Celebrity babies named Maurice

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Maurice Utrillo Suzanne Valadon model

Maurice – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Boys 2025 #1 836
Germany Boys 2023 #1 430
KH Boys 0 #9 1 270
HT Girls 0 #23 1 950
NA 0 #30 4 2,537
BN 0 #32 1 2,297
HT Boys 0 #34 1 903
CM 0 #41 15 2,592
MT 0 #42 2 1,767
BI Boys 0 #44 1 917
GE 0 #44 1 997
HN Boys 0 #52 1 749
NL Boys 2014 #59 8 79
LU 0 #60 7 2,830
JM 0 #62 26 3,714
Belgium Boys 2024 #63 139 401
CM Boys 0 #73 1,670 12,054
JP 0 #76 2 4,057
AO 0 #77 1 2,729
JM Boys 0 #89 286 6,876
NL Boys 0 #98 5,130 5,873
PH 0 #103 8 5,607
TW 0 #103 1 4,523
QA 0 #106 1 7,011
Switzerland Boys 2024 #115 23 1,769
HU 0 #115 1 1,675
KW 0 #121 1 5,216
OM 0 #121 1 6,215
CY Boys 0 #128 4 3,473
NL 0 #132 330 2,481
GR 0 #133 3 3,911
MU 0 #134 4 3,613
ID Boys 0 #135 1 4,130
PA 0 #135 4 3,797
BN Boys 0 #138 2 6,332
JO 0 #140 1 2,158
MT Boys 0 #142 35 4,064
BW Boys 0 #149 6 4,685
LU Boys 0 #153 66 4,970
MT Girls 0 #153 1 3,773
CR 0 #160 6 5,526
HU Boys 0 #174 1 3,954
Germany Boys 0 #177 2,679 5,697
AE 0 #180 8 10,220
Sweden Boys 2022 #181 2 1,509
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
LU Girls 0 #189 2 4,850
RU 0 #193 2 3,641
PS 0 #208 11 5,692
SI Boys 0 #211 1 3,402
NA Boys 0 #217 19 6,830
TW Boys 0 #217 25 7,111
BG Boys 0 #220 1 3,850
MO Boys 0 #226 9 5,842
GH 0 #228 16 5,396
NG 0 #229 36 5,926
AO Boys 0 #233 10 5,568
NA Girls 0 #237 1 7,146
PT 0 #249 2 4,161
SG 0 #249 21 11,010
HR Boys 0 #258 2 3,997
IL 0 #258 17 6,291
GR Boys 0 #268 6 6,912
AF Boys 0 #274 1 3,535
JM Girls 0 #277 2 7,507
JP Boys 0 #286 12 7,909
Canada Boys 2024 #288 19 2,588
HR Girls 0 #294 1 3,687
CN Boys 0 #296 24 9,639
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
MU Boys 0 #297 61 8,477
CZ Boys 0 #302 4 6,530
GH Boys 0 #303 43 8,138
SA 0 #305 8 10,560
DK Boys 0 #316 10 7,401
MY 0 #320 11 12,352
PE 0 #324 6 6,350
France Girls 1974 #325 3 1,499
HK 0 #326 23 8,483
PL Boys 0 #334 7 6,459
Austria Boys 0 #337 107 2,180
GH Girls 0 #337 1 6,973
Germany 0 #338 102 2,542
JO Girls 0 #339 1 7,570
QA Girls 0 #341 3 15,378
PT Boys 0 #356 12 7,951
France Boys 2021 #357 31 2,865
MU Girls 0 #357 6 8,539
CN Girls 0 #358 2 8,829
BR 0 #359 2 5,969
PH Boys 0 #365 19 11,440
ZA 0 #367 81 14,421
JO Boys 0 #368 10 7,057
PH Girls 0 #377 14 13,098
EG 0 #389 12 6,387
HK Boys 0 #391 140 12,905
BO 0 #406 3 6,868
UY Boys 0 #407 7 5,922
CL 0 #429 6 6,867
LB 0 #438 233 13,263
MX 0 #442 4 8,339
CR Boys 0 #445 43 10,188
NG Boys 0 #446 794 16,906
PS Boys 0 #448 101 10,655
SD Boys 0 #459 8 10,523
IL Boys 0 #466 144 10,983
PA Boys 0 #470 12 9,305
AR Boys 0 #482 2 7,628
GT Boys 0 #493 7 7,625
CM Girls 0 #502 39 11,671
CO 0 #503 8 7,768
PA Girls 0 #517 2 9,861
RU Boys 0 #519 8 12,621
RU Girls 0 #520 4 11,913
BH 0 #544 10 17,937
PS Girls 0 #547 1 10,981
LY 0 #553 7 12,703
KW Girls 0 #556 6 19,177
ZA Boys 0 #559 871 25,619
CL Boys 0 #564 102 13,390
IR Boys 0 #565 1 10,162
SG Boys 0 #584 114 17,960
BD Boys 0 #604 2 10,045
BO Boys 0 #614 9 9,244
SG Girls 0 #628 5 18,916
HK Girls 0 #644 7 16,104
United States Boys 2024 #648 248 7,044
Finland Boys 2026 #671 12 3,552
QA Boys 0 #676 32 18,093
IT 0 #689 26 4,183
SY 0 #692 37 11,684
IQ Boys 0 #695 3 13,071
KW Boys 0 #726 44 18,755
BR Boys 0 #741 11 12,213
NG Girls 0 #756 31 15,093
EG Boys 0 #771 116 15,035
TN 0 #794 36 13,765
OM Boys 0 #814 68 17,948
PE Boys 0 #836 43 14,506
Spain Boys 0 #840 91 5,610
CO Boys 0 #880 41 15,656
CL Girls 0 #914 2 14,098
MX Boys 0 #933 50 16,355
NL Girls 0 #936 20 5,933
MY Boys 0 #974 138 25,439
BR Girls 0 #989 4 12,708
EG Girls 0 #1,007 3 14,742
PE Girls 0 #1,010 1 14,861
SA Girls 0 #1,011 4 25,931
AE Boys 0 #1,028 65 22,615
IN Boys 0 #1,033 7 16,750
MY Girls 0 #1,067 6 24,821
MA 0 #1,071 58 20,986
IT Boys 0 #1,093 386 10,046
ZA Girls 0 #1,119 23 25,928
DZ 0 #1,131 46 20,130
CO Girls 0 #1,150 3 16,140
TR 0 #1,247 8 19,440
MX Girls 0 #1,267 1 17,781
IT Girls 0 #1,437 10 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,571 44 28,008

Maurice is popular in 84 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Ireland
NL
Canada
Switzerland

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People also ask about Maurice

Maurice is predominantly a boy's name.
Maurice is a 2 syllable name, pronounced mə-REES (məˈriːs) — common English (US),MOR-iss (ˈmɒrɪs / ˈmɔːrɪs) — alternative English,French: mo-REES (mɔʁis).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Morris, Maury, Mo and Morrice.
Across languages, Maurice has these equivalents: Moritz (German), Mauricio (Spanish/Portuguese), Maurizio (Italian), Maurycy (Polish), Mavrikiy / Маврикий (Russian), and 1 more.
Yes, very popular — Maurice ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 11 countries.
Maurice ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Maurice's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #404 in 2011 to #357 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 6 notable people named Maurice are in our database, including Maurice (Politician), Maurice Druon (Politician), Maurice Barrès (Politician).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Maurice for their child, including Suzanne Valadon.