The name Maria is of Latin origin and means ‘of the sea’, ‘bitter’, ‘beloved’, or ‘rebellious’. With its Hebrew roots and religious and historical significance being associated with the Virgin Mary in Christianity, Maria is a timeless name that is widely embraced and transcends cultural boundaries.
- Name Origin: Latin
- Pronunciation: Mah-ree-uh
- Gender: Female
How Popular is the Name Maria?
The name Maria has been in the top 100 girls’ names since the 1950s but in recent years its popularity has dropped. According to the Social Security Administration Data, Marias’ popularity has been dropping year after year since 2000. It fell out of the top 100 for the first time in 2012.
Name Variations
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Maree | Star of the sea | Latin |
| Marietta | Italian diminutive form of Mary | French |
| Marika | Form of Mary | Danish, Polish |
| Moriah | The hill country | Hebrew |
| Mayria | Star of the sea | Latin |
| Marie | A French form of Mary | French |
| Marialinda | Star of the sea | Latin |
More Hebrew Girl Names
| Name | Meaning |
| Delilah | Means delicate. |
| Eliza | Pledged to God. |
| Seraphina | Ardent or fiery. |
| Zara | Blooming flower and God remembers. |
| Ayla | Oak tree, halo, or moonlight. |
| Evie | Diminutive form of Eve and means life. |
| Elizabeth | Pledged to God. |
Alternative Girl Names Starting with ‘M’
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Malia | Of the sea | Polynesian |
| Marlene | A variant of Madeline | German |
| Melita | Means honey-sweet | Greek |
| Mercedes | Means mercies | Spanish |
| Mimi | Diminutive form of Miriam | French |
| Maya | Means water | Greek mythology |
| Molly | Means bitter | Hebrew |
Famous People Named Mia
- Mia Hamm – American soccer player and Olympic gold medalist.
- Mia Martini – Italian singer and songwriter.
- Mia Pojatina – Croatian model and beauty queen.
- Mia Murray – Australian basketball player.
- Mia Tyler – Daughter of Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler.