Girl name
Maria name meaning
“possibly beloved; exact meaning uncertain”
Maria is associated with the meaning “beloved,” although its original meaning remains unsettled. It developed from Hebrew Miryam through Greek and Latin and is used for girls in Türkiye. A concrete artistic association is the depiction of Mary, called Maria in many languages, in European painting.
What does Maria mean?
Possibly beloved; exact meaning uncertain
In Turkish: muhtemelen sevgili; kesin anlamı belirsiz
Maria belongs to the historical family of Meryem, Mary and Mariya. It has a strong Christian association with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and appears widely in European literature. These cultural connections are clear, although the earliest name has no single securely established translation.
Origin of the name Maria
Maria spread through Greek and Latin from Hebrew Miryam. The original meaning is uncertain; a proposed connection with an Egyptian root meaning “love” is one of several explanations.
How to pronounce Maria
| Syllables | 3 · 5 letters · 5-letter girl names |
|---|---|
| IPA | /maɾia/ |
Is Maria a girl’s name?
Yes, Maria is used mostly as a girl’s name. See all girl names.
Maria does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Spellings and similar names
Names that sound like Maria
- Marya♀Beloved
- Maia♀Mother
- Mari♀Possibly beloved
- Marie♀Bitterness, sorrow
- Mariya♀Possibly beloved
- Mira♀Wonderful, worthy of admiration
- Mavi♀The characteristic color of sky and sea
- Meriç♂♀The name of the Maritsa River
- Maya♀Essence, basic substance
- Maryam♀Arabic form of the name Mary
- Maral♀Female deer
- Maysa♀Walking with a graceful sway
Famous people named Maria
- Maria Pavlakis · b. 1912
FAQ about the name Maria
What is the meaning of Maria?
Maria means “possibly beloved; exact meaning uncertain”. Maria spread through Greek and Latin from Hebrew Miryam. The original meaning is uncertain; a proposed connection with an Egyptian root meaning “love” is one of several explanations.
Is Maria a girl’s name?
Yes, Maria is used mostly as a girl’s name.
Is Maria in the Quran?
No. Neither the name Maria nor its source word occurs in the Quran.
What is the origin of the name Maria?
Maria is of Hebrew and Greek and Latin origin.
How many syllables does Maria have?
Maria has 3 syllables and 5 letters.
How popular is the name Maria?
Maria does not appear in TÜİK’s top-30 lists (Türkiye and provinces, up to 2025). In our sample of notable people (Wikidata), 1 people bear it; this is not a national figure.
Famous people named Maria?
Notable people named Maria include Maria Pavlakis.
Sources and method
Meanings and origins draw on language sources and name dictionaries; popularity figures come from TÜİK’s address-based population register, and notable people from Wikidata.
Entry ID: nm11623 · Updated 2026-10-24 · How we research names · Report a mistake