Maira Girl

Popularity: #886 · Trend: ↘ Falling

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.

MayaMilaMiraMariaMinaMara

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.

MaraMinaMayaMira

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Maira was first seen in the United States in 1944.

Maira has ranked as high as #1319 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 up 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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 62 0 62
2024 62 0 62
2023 64 0 64
2022 63 0 63
2021 69 0 69
2020 51 0 51
2019 54 0 54
2018 74 0 74
2017 66 0 66
2016 53 0 53
2015 68 0 68
2014 56 0 56
2013 55 0 55
2012 66 0 66
2011 68 0 68
2010 89 0 89
2009 89 0 89
2008 76 0 76
2007 75 0 75
2006 78 0 78
2005 79 0 79
2004 95 0 95
2003 76 0 76
2002 121 0 121
2001 122 0 122
2000 110 0 110
1999 137 0 137
1998 143 0 143
1997 146 0 146
1996 186 0 186
1995 205 0 205
1994 244 0 244
1993 269 0 269
1992 290 0 290
1991 277 6 271
1990 250 0 250
1989 230 0 230
1988 176 0 176
1987 207 6 201
1986 184 5 179
1985 174 0 174
1984 156 0 156
1983 150 0 150
1982 116 0 116
1981 111 0 111
1980 145 0 145
1979 86 0 86
1978 80 0 80
1977 36 0 36
1976 31 0 31
1975 28 0 28
1974 29 0 29
1973 29 0 29
1972 25 0 25
1971 18 0 18
1970 22 0 22
1969 33 0 33
1968 25 0 25
1967 17 0 17
1966 15 0 15
1965 18 0 18
1964 14 0 14
1963 15 0 15
1962 10 0 10
1961 10 0 10
1960 11 0 11
1959 8 0 8
1958 18 0 18
1957 11 0 11
1956 6 0 6
1955 6 0 6
1954 8 0 8
1953 7 0 7
1944 5 0 5

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NY 8
36%
TX 8
36%
CA 6
27%