Origin, Meaning, And History Of Maura
Maura is the Anglicized version of Máire, the Irish form of Maria. Maria is the variation of Mary derived from the Greek names Mariam and Maria and ultimately from the Hebrew Miryam. It is a biblical name derived from the Egyptian element ‘mry’ meaning ‘beloved’ or ‘mr’ meaning ‘love.’
The name is also believed to be derived from the Irish word ‘mór,’ meaning ‘great.’ Yet another meaning could be ‘Moorish’ derived from the masculine name Maurus. This meaning is used more commonly in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.
The name was borne by a 5th-century saint and martyr. It was also the name of the companion saint of Saint Britta. Both of them are 4th-century martyrs venerated by the Church.
Some of the variants of Maura are Moira, Moyra, Muire, and Mora. The Sicilian and Sardinian form of the name is Màura. Its diminutive forms are Máirín and Maureen, primarily used in Irish. Other languages have different spellings for this name, such as Marie, Maryam, Meriem, Maria, Marietta, Marika, Marise, Marzena, Mere, Marya, Masha, Mari, Marija, Mariya, Meryem, and Mariama are some of its variations in other languages. Maura is famous in the US and other countries, such as Brazil and Chile. In Croatia, Denmark, and Poland, Maura has separate name days dedicated to it.
As Maura is such a popular name, it is no surprise that it has several pop culture appearances. First,Dr. Maura Islesis one of the main characters in the books and TV series Rizzoli and Isles. Moreover,Maura Pfefferman is a central character in the comedy-drama TV series Transparent. Next, we haveMaura Ellisin Amy Poehler’s 2015 comedy movie Sisters. Furthermore, in literature, there isMaura Sargent, who appears in the ‘Raven Cycle’ series by Maggie Stiefvater. And finally, another name for the popular Frodo Baggins of Lord of the Rings fame isMaura Labingi.
How To Pronounce Maura?
Famous People With The Name Maura
- Maura DavisAmerican singer and musician, known as the lead singer of the rock band ‘Denali’
- Maura Therese TierneyAward-winning American film, stage, and TV actress; known for her roles in ‘NewsRadio,’ ‘The Affair,’ and ‘ER’
- Maura TombelliItalian astronomer, known for discovering several minor planets and a main-belt asteroid
- Maura O’ConnellIrish singer and actress, known for her performances using Irish folk songs
- Maura MurphyIrish writer, known for her autobiography ‘Don’t Wake Me at Doyes’
- Maura K. JohnstonAmerican writer, editor, and music critic; known for her articles in ‘Rolling Stone’ and ‘Boston Globe’
- Maura West DeFreitasAward-winning American actress, known for her roles in ‘General Hospital’ and ‘The Young and the Restless’
Maura On The Popularity Chart
Popular till 2004, Maura has gradually declined in popularity since then. Take a look at these SSA graphs to know more.
Popularity Over Time
In 1980, 232 babies per million were named Maura. Its popularity peaked in 1991 when 374 babies per million were given this name. In later years, and after some ups and downs, the popularity of this name declined. Apart from a sudden spike in 2017, the name’s popularity slid down. In 2021, only 90 babies per million were named Maura.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Maura’s rank graph is similar to its popularity graph. In the 1980s and 1990s, it ranked among the top 1000 names in the US. In 1991, the name ranked 601, its highest since 1980. After 2000, its position started to drop and it finally ranked 2,103 in 2021.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Maura
If you liked the gentle, old-world sound of Maura, you must look at these names with similar sounds. They might have different meanings, though.
Popular Sibling Names For Maura
Other Popular Names Beginning With M
Names With Similar Meaning As Maura
Did you like Maura’s beautiful meaning? Here are some other names that have similar meanings.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Maura
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Maura?
The name Maura means one who is dark, darkness.
2. What is the origin of the name Maura?
Maura has a Latin origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Maura?
Maura is pronounced as mau-ra.
