Origin, Meaning, And History Of Maria
Maria is a feminine given name of Latin origin. It is the feminine form of the Roman name Marius and the Latinised form of the name Mirium (which refers to mother Mary. the mother of Lord Jesus). The name is popular among the members of the Christian faith due to the reference to the Virgin Mary. The name means ‘of the sea’, ‘bitter’, ‘beloved’, or ‘rebellious.’
The name is also used as a masculine middle name in countries like Poland, Italy, and Germany. The name is particularly popular in Spanish-speaking countries, while its variant continues to be the more popular choice in English-speaking countries.
The extensive use of the name in the Christian tradition led to the inception of compound names which themselves have become very popular. Some examples include:
- Anna+Maria = Anne-Marie or Marianne
- Maria+Luisa = Marie-Louise
- Margarita+Maria = Margaret Mary (English), Marguerite Marie (French)
- Maria+Helena = Maria Elena (Italian), María Elena (Spanish)
- Maria + Antonia = Maria Antonia or Marie-Antoinette (French)
- Maria + Teresa = Maria Theresa or Marie Thérèse (French)
The phonetic pronunciation of the name is ma-REE-a and has several variants such as Mary, Miriam, Marjo, Marja, Marie, Mariah, Maaria, Mariya, and many more.
Mia, Mai, Miken, Maj, My, Maja, and Mia are some diminutive names of the popular name Maria. Mar, Mia, and Ria are some cute nicknames for girls named Maria.
The popular feminine name Maria has also been featured in several works of fiction and literary pieces.Mariais the lead female character in the famous musicalWest Side StoryHer character is based on the character of Juliet from Shakespeare’s famous love saga Romeo and Juliet.Mariawas also a famous lead female character in the television programSesame Street.Maria von Trappis the main female protagonist and a nun turned governess to the von Trapp family in the much-loved movie The Sound of Music.
Maria
How To Pronounce Maria?
Famous People With The Name Paul
- Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia ChristinaRuler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position suo jure (in her own right).
- Maria Corazon “Cory” Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino CCLHA Filipino politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines, and a prominent figure in the People Power Revolution
- Maria Yuryevna SharapovaA former world No. 1 tennis player and the only Russian, to achieve the career Grand Slam
- Maria FeodorovnaEmpress consort of Russia as the second wife of Emperor Alexander III.
- Maria Callas Commendatore OMRIAn American-born Greek soprano who was one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century.
Maria On The Popularity Chart
The feminine name Maria has remained quite popular across the ages. Look at the following graphs to know more.
Popularity Over Time
The name Maria has achieved commendable popularity throughout its history. The name thrived for a long time after its inception but has witnessed a downward trend since 2006.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name Maria fared well in the initial years on the ranking chart. However, the name’s rank has been on the decline ever since.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Maria
Explore other names that sound like Maria.
Popular Sibling Names For Maria
Other Popular Names Beginning With M
Names With Similar Meaning As Maria
Do you want more names that share meaning with Maria? Find them here.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.
Download Infographic
How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
maria
In Sign Language
maria
In Braille Alphabet
maria
In Morse Code
maria
Name Numerology For Maria
Frequently Asked Questions
1.玛丽亚的意义是什么名字?
The name Maria means for child in variation of mary or miriam which means bitter or wished.
2. What is the origin of the name Maria?
Maria has a Hebrew and Latin origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Maria?
Maria is pronounced as muh-ree-uh.
