Maria — Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Maria is a girls' name of Hebrew/Latin origin, meaning "bitter; beloved". The universal feminine — West Side Story's song, and every culture's version of Mary.

Style & feel. With classic and international on its style card, Maria sits comfortably in the modern naming landscape — familiar enough that nobody misreads it, distinctive enough that your child won't share it with three classmates. At 2 syllables, it flows across most middle-name combinations and survives every life stage from playground to résumé.

Pairing ideas. Maria pairs naturally with one- and two-syllable middles (Anna, Sofia share its sound-world). If you like Maria, you'll probably also love Anna, Sofia, Clara — same era, same energy, same bone structure.