Maura

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAWR-uh /ˈmɔr.ə/Low

Meaning: Irish form of Mary (from Máire); also Latin Maura 'dark-skinned, Moorish'.Low

In 30 seconds: Maura is an Irish form of Mary, though it is also tied to a Latin word meaning 'dark-skinned' or 'Moorish' — its two roots are genuinely disputed.

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Origin LowIrish, Latin

MeaningIrish form of Mary (from Máire); also Latin Maura 'dark-skinned, Moorish'.

U.S. rank (2024)#1810 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births111 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1964

Total births (all-time)≈ 19,839

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Maura has two competing stories: as an Irish form of Mary, drawn from Máire, and as the Latin Maura meaning 'dark' or 'Moorish'. Because both origins are well attested, the source is honestly uncertain rather than settled. The result is a short, warm name with a soft opening 'Mau-'.

Whichever root one favors, the name stays simple and steady in sound; Maura Tierney (1965-present) carries the modern Irish-leaning spelling.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Maura is 'dark, Moorish', from its Latin root, while as a form of Irish Máire it also ties back to Mary, and that double heritage is part of the name's long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 55%

Behind the Name - Maura — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Maura Tierney (1965–present)
Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Maura…

Mary— The name Maura serves as an Irish form of, by way of Máire.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Maura mean?

Maura is an Anglicized form of Irish Máire (Mary) and also a Latin name meaning 'dark, Moorish'. As a form of Mary it relates to Hebrew Miryam, and it is most often linked with Irish and Latin tradition.

How do you pronounce Maura?

It's commonly said MAWR-uh /ˈmɔr.æ/.

Is Maura a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Maura is used as a girl name.

How popular is Maura?

In 2024, Maura ranked #1810 in the U.S. for girls, with 111 births recorded.