Maire Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MAH-rah //ˈmɛəɹə//
Origin: Irish; French
Meaning: Irish: 'sea star'; French: 'bitter'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Maire is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic name Maolmhuire, which translates to 'servant of Mary.' The name Mary itself has roots in the Hebrew name Miriam, which is thought to mean 'sea of bitterness' or 'wished-for child.' The evolution of Maire can be traced through various linguistic transformations: from Hebrew to Greek (Maria), then to Latin (Maria), and subsequently into Old French before becoming established in the Irish vernacular as Maire. This transition illustrates the cultural and linguistic exchanges that occurred over centuries, particularly with the spread of Christianity and the veneration of the Virgin Mary.
Historically, the name Maire has been associated with several notable figures in Irish history and literature. One significant milestone is its use in the context of the Gaelic revival during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when there was a resurgence of interest in Irish language and culture.
The name has also appeared in various literary works and folklore, reinforcing its cultural significance. Additionally, the name is often linked to the celebration of St.
Mary, with the Feast of the Assumption being a notable occasion in the Christian calendar, celebrated on August 15th. Culturally, Maire embodies a deep connection to Irish identity and heritage.
It is often associated with themes of devotion and maternal care, reflecting the qualities attributed to the Virgin Mary. The name has several diminutive forms, such as Mairead, which also carries historical weight and cultural resonance in Ireland.
The enduring nature of Maire in Irish culture can be attributed to its religious significance, its ties to national identity, and its representation of feminine virtues.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Maire, 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 Maire. 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 Maire was first seen in the United States in 1901.
Maire has ranked as high as #6807 nationally, which occurred in 1997, and has been most popular in Massachusetts.
In the past 5 years the name Maire has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Maire 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 Maire 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 Maire.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | 5 |
| 2023 | 9 | 9 |
| 2022 | 7 | 7 |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 |
| 2018 | 10 | 10 |
| 2017 | 10 | 10 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 |
| 2015 | 10 | 10 |
| 2014 | 9 | 9 |
| 2013 | 13 | 13 |
| 2012 | 12 | 12 |
| 2011 | 8 | 8 |
| 2010 | 10 | 10 |
| 2009 | 12 | 12 |
| 2008 | 10 | 10 |
| 2007 | 11 | 11 |
| 2006 | 8 | 8 |
| 2005 | 14 | 14 |
| 2004 | 12 | 12 |
| 2003 | 17 | 17 |
| 2002 | 13 | 13 |
| 2001 | 16 | 16 |
| 2000 | 14 | 14 |
| 1999 | 17 | 17 |
| 1998 | 19 | 19 |
| 1997 | 26 | 26 |
| 1996 | 19 | 19 |
| 1995 | 10 | 10 |
| 1994 | 16 | 16 |
| 1993 | 17 | 17 |
| 1992 | 9 | 9 |
| 1991 | 15 | 15 |
| 1990 | 17 | 17 |
| 1989 | 22 | 22 |
| 1988 | 11 | 11 |
| 1987 | 8 | 8 |
| 1986 | 6 | 6 |
| 1985 | 12 | 12 |
| 1984 | 11 | 11 |
| 1983 | 10 | 10 |
| 1982 | 7 | 7 |
| 1981 | 5 | 5 |
| 1980 | 12 | 12 |
| 1979 | 7 | 7 |
| 1978 | 7 | 7 |
| 1977 | 9 | 9 |
| 1974 | 7 | 7 |
| 1973 | 6 | 6 |
| 1971 | 5 | 5 |
| 1970 | 15 | 15 |
| 1968 | 9 | 9 |
| 1967 | 7 | 7 |
| 1966 | 8 | 8 |
| 1965 | 8 | 8 |
| 1964 | 15 | 15 |
| 1963 | 12 | 12 |
| 1962 | 11 | 11 |
| 1961 | 6 | 6 |
| 1960 | 7 | 7 |
| 1959 | 6 | 6 |
| 1958 | 6 | 6 |
| 1957 | 8 | 8 |
| 1956 | 20 | 20 |
| 1955 | 11 | 11 |
| 1953 | 5 | 5 |
| 1950 | 5 | 5 |
| 1948 | 6 | 6 |
| 1947 | 5 | 5 |
| 1945 | 10 | 10 |
| 1944 | 5 | 5 |
| 1943 | 7 | 7 |
| 1936 | 7 | 7 |
| 1935 | 5 | 5 |
| 1933 | 9 | 9 |
| 1930 | 8 | 8 |
| 1928 | 9 | 9 |
| 1927 | 9 | 9 |
| 1926 | 13 | 13 |
| 1925 | 8 | 8 |
| 1924 | 10 | 10 |
| 1923 | 7 | 7 |
| 1922 | 10 | 10 |
| 1921 | 6 | 6 |
| 1920 | 8 | 8 |
| 1919 | 9 | 9 |
| 1918 | 8 | 8 |
| 1917 | 7 | 7 |
| 1915 | 7 | 7 |
| 1914 | 10 | 10 |
| 1913 | 5 | 5 |
| 1912 | 5 | 5 |
| 1901 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Maire (2002)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| MA | 5 |