This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance: Name: Maria – Meaning: of disputed root; possibly 'bitter' or 'rebellious' (Hebrew), or 'beloved' (Egyptian) – Origin: Hebrew (via Latin) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: muh-REE-uh
Maria is a classic girl's name with Hebrew roots that came into English by way of Latin, pronounced muh-REE-uh. You may have heard that it means 'star of the sea,' but that's a popular myth — most likely the result of a Latin copying error that turned 'stilla maris' (drop of the sea) into 'stella maris' (star of the sea). The name's true root is actually uncertain and still debated, with some tracing it to a Hebrew word for 'bitter' or 'rebellious,' and others to an Egyptian word for 'beloved.'
Meaning & Origin of Maria
Meaning: Of disputed root; possibly 'bitter' or 'rebellious' (hebrew), or 'beloved' (egyptian).
Origin: Hebrew (via Latin).
A common claim: Maria/Mary means 'star of the sea' Actually: This is a well-documented folk etymology, likely from a Latin copying error (stilla maris, 'drop of the sea', became stella maris, 'star of the sea'); the real Hebrew root is uncertain and debated.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Maria
Phonetic: muh-REE-uh IPA: /məˈriːə/
Popularity of Maria
Maria peaked at #30 in 1975, when 7,539 babies were given the name; by 2024 it ranked #74, with 3,105 babies named Maria that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Maria Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Maria, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Maria mean?
Of disputed root; possibly ‘bitter’ or ‘rebellious’ (hebrew), or ‘beloved’ (egyptian). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Maria)
How do you pronounce Maria?
Maria is pronounced muh-REE-uh (IPA: /məˈriːə/).
Is Maria a popular name right now?
Maria peaked at #30 in 1975 and is ranked #74 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Maria? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
🎨 Get Printable Name Art for Maria
Beautiful nursery-ready 8×10" print with name & meaning
Preview & Download →More Baby Name Inspiration
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →
