Maira Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MY-rah /ˈmaɪrə/
Origin: Arabic; Hebrew; Spanish
Meaning: Arabic: 'princess'; Hebrew: 'bitterness'; Spanish: 'sea of bitterness'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Maira has roots in multiple linguistic traditions, primarily deriving from the Hebrew name Miriam, which is believed to mean "sea of bitterness" or "rebelliousness." The name Miriam was adopted into Greek as Maria, which then influenced Latin, leading to the form Maria that became prevalent in various European languages. The transition into English occurred through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, where Maria was introduced alongside other biblical names, becoming a common name in Christian contexts due to its association with the Virgin Mary, a central figure in Christianity.
Historically, the name Maira has been linked to significant figures and texts. In the biblical narrative, Miriam is noted as the sister of Moses and Aaron, playing a crucial role in the Exodus story.
The name gained further prominence through the New Testament, where Mary, the mother of Jesus, is a pivotal character. The translation of the Bible into various languages, particularly the King James Bible in the early 17th century, helped solidify the name's presence in Christian culture.
Throughout the centuries, the name has been borne by numerous saints, including Saint Mary of Egypt, who lived in the 4th century, contributing to its religious significance. Culturally, the name Maira and its variants have been associated with themes of strength, resilience, and femininity.
In various traditions, the name symbolizes purity and motherhood, reflecting the virtues attributed to the Virgin Mary. The diminutive form "Maya" has also emerged in some cultures, further enriching the name's legacy.
The enduring nature of Maira in different cultures underscores its deep-rooted significance and the historical narratives that have shaped its identity over time.
Famous people named Maira
In this section, you will find notable people named Maira. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Maira who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Maira who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Maira Kalman is an author and illustrator best known for The Principles of Uncertainty, Max's Dragon, and her work in The New Yorker.
Maira K. is a singer-songwriter best known for her contributions to the indie music scene and her album 'Maira K.'.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Maira, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Maira. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Maira was first seen in the United States in 1944.
Maira has ranked as high as #953 nationally, which occurred in 1992, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Arizona.
In the past 5 years the name Maira has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Maira is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Maira was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Maira (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 8 | |
| TX | 8 | |
| CA | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Maira.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 62 |
| 2023 | 64 |
| 2022 | 63 |
| 2021 | 69 |
| 2020 | 51 |
| 2019 | 54 |
| 2018 | 74 |
| 2017 | 66 |
| 2016 | 53 |
| 2015 | 68 |
| 2014 | 56 |
| 2013 | 55 |
| 2012 | 66 |
| 2011 | 68 |
| 2010 | 89 |
| 2009 | 89 |
| 2008 | 76 |
| 2007 | 75 |
| 2006 | 78 |
| 2005 | 79 |
| 2004 | 95 |
| 2003 | 76 |
| 2002 | 121 |
| 2001 | 122 |
| 2000 | 110 |
| 1999 | 137 |
| 1998 | 143 |
| 1997 | 146 |
| 1996 | 186 |
| 1995 | 205 |
| 1994 | 244 |
| 1993 | 269 |
| 1992 | 290 |
| 1991 | 271 |
| 1990 | 250 |
| 1989 | 230 |
| 1988 | 176 |
| 1987 | 201 |
| 1986 | 179 |
| 1985 | 174 |
| 1984 | 156 |
| 1983 | 150 |
| 1982 | 116 |
| 1981 | 111 |
| 1980 | 145 |
| 1979 | 86 |
| 1978 | 80 |
| 1977 | 36 |
| 1976 | 31 |
| 1975 | 28 |
| 1974 | 29 |
| 1973 | 29 |
| 1972 | 25 |
| 1971 | 18 |
| 1970 | 22 |
| 1969 | 33 |
| 1968 | 25 |
| 1967 | 17 |
| 1966 | 15 |
| 1965 | 18 |
| 1964 | 14 |
| 1963 | 15 |
| 1962 | 10 |
| 1961 | 10 |
| 1960 | 11 |
| 1959 | 8 |
| 1958 | 18 |
| 1957 | 11 |
| 1956 | 6 |
| 1955 | 6 |
| 1954 | 8 |
| 1953 | 7 |
| 1944 | 5 |