Home › Baby Names Directory › Mauricio

Mauricio

♂ Boy

Pronounced mow-REE-see-oh /mɔːˈriː.si.oʊ/High

Meaning: Spanish form of Maurice, from Latin Mauritius, from Maurus meaning a Moor or inhabitant of Mauritania in North Africa; came to mean dark-skinned in Roman usageHigh

In 30 seconds: The Spanish form of Maurice, Mauricio is a stately four-syllable name meaning Moorish or dark, deeply rooted in Latin and widely beloved across Spanish-speaking Latin America.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighSpanish, Latin
MeaningSpanish form of Maurice, from Latin Mauritius, from Maurus meaning a Moor or inhabitant of Mauritania in North Africa; came to mean dark-skinned in Roman usage
U.S. rank (2025)#664 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births413 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2008
Total births (all-time)≈ 24,225

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200818852025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Mauricio is the Spanish form of Maurice, from Latin Mauritius, derived from Maurus meaning a Moor or North African. The term originally referred to inhabitants of the Roman province of Mauritania in North Africa. Saint Maurice, a Roman soldier of the Theban Legion, was martyred c. 286 CE and became a widely venerated saint, spreading the name across Christendom.

Mauricio is one of the standard forms of Maurice across Spanish-speaking Latin America, where it has been a popular given name for generations. In the United States it charts among Latino communities and has been a consistent top-300 name for boys. The name carries a certain dignified, classic weight alongside its Southern European elegance.

Did you know? Saint Maurice (Mauritius) was a 3rd-century Roman soldier from Egypt who, according to tradition, was martyred along with his entire legion for refusing to participate in the persecution of Christians — making him the patron saint of soldiers and several European countries.
Overall data confidence 92%
Behind the Name — Mauricio — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MauriceMaurizioMorris

Nicknames

MauriMauRicio

Famous Bearers

  • ★Saint Maurice (c. 250–c. 287)
    3rd-century Roman soldier and Christian martyr of the Theban Legion, patron saint of soldiers.

If you like Mauricio…

Marco— shares the four-syllable Spanish/Italian classic tradition and the same Roman heritage
Mario— fellow warm Latin classic popular across the Spanish-speaking world
Sergio— shares the Roman origin and the same dignified Latin American classic status
Antonio— another multi-syllable Spanish classic with the same Roman heritage and elegant sound

Frequently Asked

What does the name Mauricio mean?

Mauricio means Moorish or from Mauritania, from Latin Maurus. It originally referred to a North African and came to suggest dark-complexioned.

How do you pronounce Mauricio?

It is said mow-REE-see-oh /mɔːˈriː.si.oʊ/ — four syllables with stress on the second.

Is Mauricio the same as Maurice?

Yes — Mauricio is the Spanish form of Maurice, and Maurizio is the Italian form; all share the same Latin root.

Is Mauricio a popular name?

Mauricio is popular across Latin America and among Latino communities in the United States, charting in the top 300 boys' names.