Maria

♂ Boy

Pronounced muh-REE-ah /məˈri.ə/Medium

Meaning: From Mary/Miriam — variously 'beloved; bitter; of the sea/star of the sea'; used in some Catholic cultures as a boys' name honoring the Virgin Mary (as in José Maria); here for a boy; we note the crossoverLow

In 30 seconds: Beloved; of the sea: Maria honors the Virgin Mary. Lyrical, classic, and warm (said 'muh-REE-ah'). More often a girls' name — here a boy.

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Origin LowHebrew, Latin

MeaningFrom Mary/Miriam — variously 'beloved; bitter; of the sea/star of the sea'; used in some Catholic cultures as a boys' name honoring the Virgin Mary (as in José Maria); here for a boy; we note the crossover

U.S. rank (2025)#11511 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births6 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1982

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,278

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Maria comes from Mary/Miriam — variously 'beloved; bitter; of the sea/star of the sea'; used in some Catholic cultures as a boys' name honoring the Virgin Mary (as in Jose Maria). Much more often a girls' name, it is recorded here for a boy — which we flag honestly (slug distinguished; said 'muh-REE-ah').

In the U.S. Maria is overwhelmingly a girls' name; this boys' use follows the Hispanic/Catholic middle-name tradition. Rare for a boy, and lyrical.

Did you know? Maria (from Mary) is 'beloved; of the sea' — much more often a girls' name, but used in some Catholic cultures as a boys' name honoring the Virgin Mary (as in Jose Maria; we note the crossover; said 'muh-REE-ah').

Overall data confidence 30%

References — Maria — from Mary; chiefly female; Catholic boys' use

Variations

MarioJosemaria

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Maria…

Mario— the standard boys' form

Mari— a kin cross-cultural name

Josemaria— a compound honoring Mary

Mariano— a fellow Marian boys' name

Explore names like Maria

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Maria mean?

Maria comes from Mary/Miriam — variously 'beloved; bitter; of the sea'. It is much more often a girls' name; here it is a boys' name honoring the Virgin Mary.

How do you pronounce Maria?

It's said muh-REE-ah /məˈri.ə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Maria a boy or girl name?

Maria is overwhelmingly a girls' name; this page covers its use as a boy's name in the Catholic tradition.

How popular is Maria?

Maria is very popular for girls and very rare for boys.