Fun Facts About the Name Maria
- Back among the favorites: Maria returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 4 consecutive years, through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Maria's rank fell 43 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 570 thousand babies named Maria: U.S. records list 570,304 babies given the name Maria from 1880 through 2025. Even 4,278 boys received the name Maria - about 1 boy for every 132 girls.
What Does the Name Maria Mean?
Maria is the Latin form of the Hebrew name Miryam (מִרְיָם), known in English as Miriam. The meaning of the Hebrew name is not settled, and no single derivation is accepted. The Greek form found in early Christian texts is Mariam (Μαριάμ), and Maria is the form that passed into Latin and from there into most European languages.
Among the proposed Hebrew derivations are marah, "bitterness," and a root related to meri, "rebellion" or "rebelliousness." Another proposal connects the name to the Egyptian word mry, "beloved," which would suit the Egyptian setting of the biblical Miriam stories; this remains a suggestion rather than a settled fact. Later Christian writers gave the name symbolic readings rather than literal ones: Jerome interpreted Maria as stella maris, "star of the sea," and also as "lady," from Aramaic mara, "lord." These are devotional interpretations, not the name's etymology. The popular gloss "drop of the sea," built from Hebrew mar and yam, is likewise a later construction.
Maria Name History & Origins
The name rests on the biblical figure of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, who appears in the book of Exodus. The related Greek form Mariamne belonged to the Hasmonean royal house in the first century BCE; Mariamne was the name of a Hasmonean princess who married Herod the Great.
The Greek New Testament uses Mariam and Maria for several women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Mary of Bethany. Latin translations of the Bible used Maria, and this Latin form is the source of the name across much of Europe: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan, German, Dutch, Scandinavian, Polish, and Czech all use Maria or a close variant; French uses Marie, and Russian uses Maria (Мария).
As Christianity spread, so did the name, and devotion to the Virgin Mary is traditionally credited with its wide use in medieval Europe. The name also has a long history in the Islamic world: the Quran's nineteenth surah is named Maryam, and forms of the name are common in Arabic-speaking and other Muslim countries.
English has used both forms. Mary entered English from Latin Maria by way of Old French, while the Latin or Romance form Maria has also been used in English, often in Catholic communities. The two English forms share the same source.
How Popular is the Name Maria?
Maria recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1964. Its best rank was #30 in 1975.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #87 | 2,887 | 0.1796% |
| 2024 | #74 | 3,105 | 0.1925% |
| 2023 | #82 | 2,905 | 0.1813% |
| 2022 | #91 | 2,847 | 0.1737% |
| 2021 | #105 | 2,604 | 0.1588% |
| 2020 | #109 | 2,492 | 0.1543% |
| 2019 | #106 | 2,716 | 0.1619% |
| 2018 | #115 | 2,619 | 0.1540% |
| 2017 | #111 | 2,717 | 0.1574% |
| 2016 | #113 | 2,810 | 0.1586% |
| 2015 | #109 | 2,833 | 0.1587% |
| 2014 | #114 | 2,776 | 0.1554% |
| 2013 | #111 | 2,821 | 0.1608% |
| 2012 | #101 | 3,033 | 0.1723% |
| 2011 | #92 | 3,220 | 0.1831% |
| 2010 | #86 | 3,420 | 0.1924% |
| 2009 | #70 | 4,142 | 0.2255% |
| 2008 | #63 | 4,592 | 0.2429% |
| 2007 | #53 | 5,129 | 0.2668% |
| 2006 | #46 | 5,604 | 0.2948% |
| 2005 | #46 | 5,600 | 0.3031% |
| 2004 | #42 | 5,757 | 0.3135% |
| 2003 | #42 | 6,090 | 0.3333% |
| 2002 | #40 | 6,389 | 0.3556% |
| 2001 | #41 | 6,842 | 0.3800% |
| 2000 | #41 | 6,856 | 0.3775% |
| 1999 | #39 | 7,033 | 0.3965% |
| 1998 | #43 | 6,817 | 0.3858% |
| 1997 | #38 | 7,313 | 0.4201% |
| 1996 | #37 | 7,597 | 0.4334% |
| 1995 | #44 | 7,001 | 0.3981% |
| 1994 | #47 | 6,752 | 0.3781% |
| 1993 | #45 | 6,977 | 0.3857% |
| 1992 | #45 | 7,091 | 0.3846% |
| 1991 | #45 | 7,136 | 0.3806% |
| 1990 | #47 | 7,185 | 0.3785% |
| 1989 | #56 | 6,345 | 0.3442% |
| 1988 | #60 | 5,713 | 0.3208% |
| 1987 | #53 | 5,677 | 0.3265% |
| 1986 | #49 | 6,141 | 0.3580% |
| 1985 | #52 | 6,013 | 0.3494% |
| 1984 | #50 | 6,135 | 0.3643% |
| 1983 | #43 | 6,848 | 0.4099% |
| 1982 | #42 | 7,346 | 0.4338% |
| 1981 | #40 | 7,683 | 0.4606% |
| 1980 | #36 | 7,875 | 0.4743% |
| 1979 | #37 | 7,335 | 0.4569% |
| 1978 | #36 | 7,019 | 0.4582% |
| 1977 | #36 | 7,093 | 0.4626% |
| 1976 | #34 | 7,358 | 0.5022% |
| 1975 | #30 | 7,539 | 0.5171% |
| 1974 | #31 | 7,804 | 0.5318% |
| 1973 | #31 | 7,665 | 0.5256% |
| 1972 | #32 | 7,717 | 0.5073% |
| 1971 | #37 | 8,137 | 0.4891% |
| 1970 | #39 | 8,684 | 0.4968% |
| 1969 | #40 | 8,402 | 0.4980% |
| 1968 | #41 | 8,385 | 0.5112% |
| 1967 | #42 | 8,878 | 0.5377% |
| 1966 | #44 | 9,130 | 0.5395% |
| 1965 | #46 | 9,479 | 0.5370% |
| 1964 | #41 | 10,147 | 0.5355% |
| 1963 | #43 | 9,849 | 0.5110% |
| 1962 | #49 | 9,090 | 0.4622% |
| 1961 | #57 | 7,947 | 0.3937% |
| 1960 | #59 | 7,536 | 0.3727% |
| 1959 | #62 | 7,247 | 0.3581% |
| 1958 | #65 | 6,899 | 0.3430% |
| 1957 | #71 | 6,779 | 0.3315% |
| 1956 | #73 | 6,731 | 0.3353% |
| 1955 | #69 | 6,209 | 0.3176% |
| 1954 | #65 | 6,589 | 0.3393% |
| 1953 | #68 | 5,992 | 0.3185% |
| 1952 | #72 | 5,694 | 0.3071% |
| 1951 | #75 | 5,236 | 0.2907% |
| 1950 | #73 | 5,076 | 0.2963% |
| 1949 | #72 | 5,123 | 0.2994% |
| 1948 | #75 | 4,817 | 0.2837% |
| 1947 | #79 | 4,712 | 0.2658% |
| 1946 | #88 | 3,960 | 0.2520% |
| 1945 | #86 | 3,313 | 0.2535% |
| 1944 | #80 | 3,361 | 0.2532% |
| 1943 | #103 | 2,863 | 0.2052% |
| 1942 | #97 | 2,817 | 0.2086% |
| 1941 | #102 | 2,470 | 0.2044% |
| 1940 | #119 | 2,135 | 0.1867% |
| 1939 | #119 | 2,077 | 0.1894% |
| 1938 | #122 | 2,012 | 0.1823% |
| 1937 | #123 | 1,953 | 0.1835% |
| 1936 | #120 | 1,980 | 0.1903% |
| 1935 | #117 | 1,994 | 0.1902% |
| 1934 | #115 | 1,990 | 0.1906% |
| 1933 | #122 | 1,862 | 0.1847% |
| 1932 | #120 | 2,045 | 0.1916% |
| 1931 | #109 | 2,185 | 0.2052% |
| 1930 | #99 | 2,540 | 0.2256% |
| 1929 | #100 | 2,532 | 0.2268% |
| 1928 | #105 | 2,565 | 0.2224% |
| 1927 | #107 | 2,592 | 0.2174% |
| 1926 | #115 | 2,352 | 0.1984% |
| 1925 | #115 | 2,360 | 0.1939% |
| 1924 | #119 | 2,291 | 0.1834% |
| 1923 | #133 | 2,000 | 0.1658% |
| 1922 | #132 | 1,929 | 0.1606% |
| 1921 | #129 | 2,028 | 0.1645% |
| 1920 | #130 | 1,935 | 0.1615% |
| 1919 | #138 | 1,678 | 0.1485% |
| 1918 | #147 | 1,544 | 0.1334% |
| 1917 | #146 | 1,441 | 0.1333% |
| 1916 | #159 | 1,261 | 0.1207% |
| 1915 | #146 | 1,286 | 0.1307% |
| 1914 | #135 | 1,117 | 0.1467% |
| 1913 | #133 | 909 | 0.1455% |
| 1912 | #133 | 828 | 0.1484% |
| 1911 | #129 | 646 | 0.1544% |
| 1910 | #132 | 621 | 0.1566% |
| 1909 | #130 | 544 | 0.1567% |
| 1908 | #142 | 480 | 0.1436% |
| 1907 | #136 | 490 | 0.1538% |
| 1906 | #154 | 388 | 0.1314% |
| 1905 | #139 | 430 | 0.1475% |
| 1904 | #144 | 393 | 0.1427% |
| 1903 | #144 | 379 | 0.1447% |
| 1902 | #156 | 331 | 0.1253% |
| 1901 | #141 | 350 | 0.1462% |
| 1900 | #150 | 389 | 0.1298% |
| 1899 | #168 | 266 | 0.1142% |
| 1898 | #155 | 329 | 0.1271% |
| 1897 | #152 | 304 | 0.1298% |
| 1896 | #151 | 312 | 0.1311% |
| 1895 | #153 | 295 | 0.1263% |
| 1894 | #139 | 309 | 0.1386% |
| 1893 | #156 | 255 | 0.1198% |
| 1892 | #135 | 301 | 0.1418% |
| 1891 | #143 | 248 | 0.1337% |
| 1890 | #142 | 247 | 0.1297% |
| 1889 | #143 | 238 | 0.1334% |
| 1888 | #138 | 239 | 0.1338% |
| 1887 | #133 | 203 | 0.1391% |
| 1886 | #142 | 180 | 0.1245% |
| 1885 | #138 | 175 | 0.1315% |
| 1884 | #129 | 190 | 0.1473% |
| 1883 | #139 | 141 | 0.1255% |
| 1882 | #147 | 121 | 0.1122% |
| 1881 | #132 | 120 | 0.1305% |
| 1880 | #131 | 125 | 0.1374% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #11,511 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #9,520 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #8,589 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2020 | #7,872 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #9,426 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #13,539 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #10,347 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #11,598 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #11,630 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #13,349 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #11,737 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #10,354 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #6,589 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2009 | #6,307 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #6,636 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #6,146 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #6,334 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #3,682 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2004 | #3,336 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 2003 | #4,369 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2002 | #3,524 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2001 | #5,055 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #4,715 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1999 | #2,840 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1998 | #3,259 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1997 | #2,292 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 1996 | #2,363 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1995 | #1,855 | 47 | 0.0025% |
| 1994 | #2,030 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 1993 | #1,455 | 65 | 0.0033% |
| 1992 | #1,520 | 59 | 0.0030% |
| 1991 | #1,140 | 93 | 0.0046% |
| 1990 | #1,046 | 103 | 0.0050% |
| 1989 | #972 | 111 | 0.0055% |
| 1988 | #968 | 100 | 0.0052% |
| 1987 | #958 | 97 | 0.0052% |
| 1986 | #936 | 96 | 0.0052% |
| 1985 | #942 | 94 | 0.0051% |
| 1984 | #957 | 86 | 0.0048% |
| 1983 | #1,046 | 72 | 0.0040% |
| 1982 | #825 | 116 | 0.0064% |
| 1981 | #951 | 90 | 0.0050% |
| 1980 | #1,053 | 74 | 0.0041% |
| 1979 | #957 | 86 | 0.0050% |
| 1978 | #1,086 | 65 | 0.0040% |
| 1977 | #1,168 | 57 | 0.0035% |
| 1976 | #1,090 | 60 | 0.0038% |
| 1975 | #928 | 78 | 0.0050% |
| 1974 | #1,071 | 60 | 0.0038% |
| 1973 | #1,005 | 65 | 0.0042% |
| 1972 | #1,066 | 58 | 0.0036% |
| 1971 | #1,119 | 54 | 0.0031% |
| 1970 | #1,038 | 62 | 0.0033% |
| 1969 | #938 | 67 | 0.0037% |
| 1968 | #1,126 | 45 | 0.0026% |
| 1967 | #983 | 55 | 0.0032% |
| 1966 | #988 | 55 | 0.0031% |
| 1965 | #1,153 | 43 | 0.0023% |
| 1964 | #1,090 | 49 | 0.0025% |
| 1963 | #1,334 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1962 | #1,210 | 42 | 0.0020% |
| 1961 | #1,294 | 38 | 0.0018% |
| 1960 | #1,234 | 41 | 0.0019% |
| 1959 | #1,095 | 50 | 0.0023% |
| 1958 | #1,390 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 1957 | #1,192 | 43 | 0.0020% |
| 1956 | #1,593 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1955 | #1,146 | 43 | 0.0021% |
| 1954 | #1,258 | 36 | 0.0018% |
| 1953 | #1,180 | 40 | 0.0020% |
| 1952 | #1,365 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1951 | #1,475 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1950 | #1,486 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1949 | #1,068 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 1948 | #1,210 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1947 | #1,386 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1946 | #1,400 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1945 | #1,239 | 29 | 0.0022% |
| 1944 | #1,713 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1943 | #1,422 | 25 | 0.0018% |
| 1942 | #1,184 | 35 | 0.0025% |
| 1941 | #1,225 | 30 | 0.0024% |
| 1940 | #1,149 | 34 | 0.0029% |
| 1939 | #1,025 | 39 | 0.0035% |
| 1938 | #1,103 | 35 | 0.0032% |
| 1937 | #1,361 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1936 | #1,238 | 29 | 0.0028% |
| 1935 | #986 | 42 | 0.0040% |
| 1934 | #1,375 | 25 | 0.0024% |
| 1933 | #1,219 | 30 | 0.0030% |
| 1932 | #1,226 | 31 | 0.0030% |
| 1931 | #1,122 | 37 | 0.0036% |
| 1930 | #906 | 55 | 0.0050% |
| 1929 | #1,069 | 42 | 0.0039% |
| 1928 | #1,160 | 38 | 0.0034% |
| 1927 | #996 | 50 | 0.0044% |
| 1926 | #1,451 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1925 | #1,273 | 33 | 0.0030% |
| 1924 | #1,556 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1923 | #1,733 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1922 | #1,531 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1921 | #1,406 | 29 | 0.0026% |
| 1920 | #1,673 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1919 | #1,736 | 20 | 0.0020% |
| 1918 | #3,586 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1917 | #2,656 | 10 | 0.0011% |
| 1916 | #2,014 | 15 | 0.0017% |
| 1915 | #1,850 | 16 | 0.0019% |
| 1914 | #2,568 | 8 | 0.0012% |
| 1913 | #2,036 | 9 | 0.0018% |
| 1912 | #2,171 | 7 | 0.0016% |
| 1911 | #1,484 | 7 | 0.0031% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
