Maurice

At a Glance: Name: Maurice – Meaning: dark-skinned, i.e. 'Moorish' – Origin: Latin (via Old French) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: MOR-iss

---

Maurice comes from Latin by way of Old French, and its meaning is "dark-skinned," i.e. "Moorish." It's pronounced MOR-iss, and Social Security records for the name go all the way back to 1880. If you want a boy's name with old, traceable roots and a straightforward pronunciation, Maurice is worth a look.

Meaning & Origin of Maurice

Meaning: Dark-skinned, i.e. 'moorish'.

Origin: Latin (via Old French).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Maurice

Phonetic: MOR-iss   IPA: /ˈmɔːrɪs/

Popularity of Maurice

Maurice hit its high point in 1914, ranking #94 with 1,256 baby boys given the name that year. By 2024 it had dropped to #930, with only 248 boys named Maurice — still in use, just far less common than a century ago.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Maurice Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Maurice, 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.

• Amadeus
• Amias
• Blaise
• Caelum
• Caian
• Caius

FAQ

What does the name Maurice mean?

Dark-skinned, i.e. ‘moorish’. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Maurice)

How do you pronounce Maurice?

Maurice is pronounced MOR-iss (IPA: /ˈmɔːrɪs/).

Is Maurice a popular name right now?

Maurice peaked at #94 in 1914 and is ranked #930 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

More Baby Name Inspiration

• Check any name’s popularity history
• Take the naming-style quiz
• Make art for a different name