Maria
Meaning of Maria
Maria is a traditionally feminine name with roots in multiple cultures, which adds to its universal appeal and timeless charm. This name has Italian, Spanish, and English pronunciations, all quite similar but with subtle differences; in English it's pronounced as muh-REE-uh. Variations of Maria include Marie and Mary, offering even more versatility for this classic name.
Originating from the Hebrew name Miryam, Maria carries biblical significance as it was borne by the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ. Through time and across cultures, Maria has maintained its popularity due to its simple elegance and significant associations.
In the United States, Maria has consistently been a favorite choice for newborns over the past century. Although there have been fluctuations in its popularity ranking over the years — reaching as high as 30th place in 1975 and lowest at 167th place in 1899— Maria remains a steadfast choice for parents seeking a traditional yet internationally recognized name for their daughters.
Pronunciation
Italian
- Pronunced as mah-REE-ah (/maˈriːa/)
Spanish
- Pronunced as mah-REE-ah (/maˈɾi.a/)
English
- Pronunced as muh-REE-uh (/məˈriə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Maria
| Maria Yuryevna Sharapova is a retired Russian tennis player who was ranked world No. 1 and achieved the career Grand Slam. |
| Maria Callas was a highly influential American-born Greek soprano known for her wide-ranging voice, dramatic interpretations, and repertoire spanning classical opera to bel canto and music dramas, earning her the title "La Divina." |
| Maria Theresa was a powerful ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the only woman to hold the position suo jure, overseeing multiple territories during her reign. |
| Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and educator known for her pioneering philosophy of education and scientific pedagogy, which is still widely used in schools worldwide. |
| Maria Tallchief - Elizabeth Marie Tallchief was an influential American ballerina, recognized as the first major prima ballerina in the United States and the first Native American to hold this prestigious rank, revolutionizing the world of ballet. |
| Maria Edgeworth was a prolific Anglo-Irish novelist known for her realist writing in children's literature and her critical views on estate management, politics, and education. |
| Maria Angelita Ressa is a prominent Filipino-American journalist, co-founder, and CEO of Rappler, with an extensive background in investigative reporting and upcoming roles at Columbia University. |
| Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples and Sicily, was a proponent of enlightened absolutism and oversaw significant reforms in her husband's kingdoms. |
| María África Gracia Vidal, also known as Maria Montez, was a Dominican actress who rose to fame in the 1940s for her roles in Technicolor adventure films, earning her the title "The Queen of Technicolor." |
| Maria Goeppert Mayer was a German-born American theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate known for proposing the nuclear shell model of the atomic nucleus, and she was the second woman to win a Nobel Prize in physics. |
| Maria Mitchell was an American astronomer, educator, and the first internationally known woman to work as a professional astronomer and a professor of astronomy, known for her discovery of "Miss Mitchell's Comet" in 1847. |
| Maria Viktoria Mena is a well-known Norwegian pop singer recognized for her hit singles like "You're the Only One", "Just Hold Me", and "All This Time" that achieved chart success in various countries. |
| Maria von Trapp - Maria Augusta von Trapp, also known as the "Baroness," was the stepmother and matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers, whose story inspired the famous musical and film "The Sound of Music." |
| Maria Cunitz, also known as Maria Cunitia, was a prominent Silesian astronomer and the most notable female astronomer of the early modern era, known for her significant contributions to astronomy and her influential book Urania propitia. |
| Maria Bamford is an American actress and stand-up comedian known for her dark and self-deprecating humor that often touches on topics like mental illness, depression, and anxiety. |
